Chris Ridley grew in Bedford, UK. After studying with Lee Stanley and playing with the local orchestras he gained a scholarship to study at the Royal Academy of Music with Kurt Hans Goedicke and Simon Carrington.
During this time, he played with Schleswig Holstein Academy and the Gustav Mahler Jugend Orchestra where he Met David Searcy. He gained the James Blades award for Timpani, reached the final of the Shell LSO competition. He had a gap year in Milan studying with David, before finishing his studies at the Academy. He later was made an Associate at the Royal Academy of Music.
After graduating he went back to Milan where he studied more with David Searcy and worked with various opera houses and symphony orchestras for two years culminating in playing Timpani for four years at La Scala, Milan.
In 2008 he accepted the Timpani position at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, London.
He has been Professor of Timpani at Trinity Laban conservatoire, Royal College of Music before accepting the position of Professor of Timpani at the Royal Academy of Music. He has given masterclasses around Europe and America.
He has played with all the major symphony orchestras in the UK. Last year he played with the Finnish National Opera and Ballet for 6 months. He has worked with conductors such as Abbado, Boulez, Jansons, Pretre, Muti, Pappano, Maazel, Haitink, Barenboim, Gergiev and Nelsons to mention a few. He was made a Liveryman of the Worshipful Company of Musicians and is a trustee of the Friends of Musicians Chapel in the city of London.
He also has his own choir and orchestra which he conducts to raise money for the homeless.