Patrick Harrild is Principal Tuba with the London Symphony Orchestra. He studied at the Guildhall School of Music andDDrama and was appointed Principal Tuba of the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra iin 1974 at the age of twenty-one, making him the orchestra's youngest principal. He remained with the RPO until 1987 when he accepted an invitation to join the LSO.

He has performed as a guest principal with many of the major symphony orchestras in the UK and with ensembles as diverse as the St Petersburg Philharmonic Orchestra, the English Chamber Orchestra and the Philip Jones Brass Ensemble. In addition to his orchestral career, Patrick Harrild has a busy schedule as a soloist and chamber musician and has appeared on many occasions throughout the UK, Europe, USA, Japan and Australia, both on the concert platform and in the recording studio. His recording of the Vaughan Williams Tuba Concerto with the LSO was reviewed as the best of the existing five worldwide recordings. Patrick Harrild regularly gives masterclasses, recitals and serves on adjudicating panels of major competitions.

He has a distinguished reputation as a teacher and is a professor at the Royal Academy of Music, the Guildhall School of Music and with the National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain, and is consultant to Wells Cathedral School. In 1993 the Royal Academy of Music conferred upon him the distinction of Honorary Membership.