Richard Hobson was born in Yorkshire. He was a chorister at Lichfield Cathedral and read music at Wadham College, Oxford, where he was College Organist. After a post-graduate year at St John's College, Cambridge, he joined the staff of Latymer Upper School, Hammersmith in 1976, becoming Director of Music in 1982. Since September 1996 he has been Director of Music at Merchant Taylors' School, Northwood.

Since 1981 Richard has been organist and Director of Music of the Grosvenor Chapel, Mayfair, where the highly acclaimed new organ which he designed in collaboration with the organ builder William Drake, was inaugurated in 1991. As well as directing the professional choir, he arranges the annual series of International Organ Concerts and Lunchtime Concerts, and has recorded two CDs on the new organ.