Geoffrey Hobday Scrapbooks and Photographs

Born in Birmingham, England, in 1912, Geoffrey Hobday conducted international symphonies, operas, and oratories. Following his early days as a singer and composer, Hobday conducted his first concert, at the age of twenty-two, a performance of Mendelssohn’s “St. Paul.” in Birmingham. In 1934, he sought other opportunities to conduct orchestras in France, Italy, and the United States. During World War II, the British Army called-up Hobday and stationed him in Northern Ireland and then Italy. For four years, the British Army Music Education Program allowed him to conduct symphony concerts in Monte Carlo, Italy. He gained a reputation with the Italian L’Orchestre National de L’Opera.

In 1953, members of the Fort Worth Civic Opera invited Hobday to be its General Director and Conductor. The Fort Worth Civic Opera was founded in 1946. Hobday succeeded director Karl Kritz and became the opera’s second conductor in its history. At the same time, Texas Christian University offered him a position as a director of its Chorus and Opera Workshop. After he accepted both invitations, Hobday cast local and nation-wide singers for several performances like Hansel and Gretel and Madame Butterfly. He worked closely with TCU graduate student and Arlington native Sara Rhodes. Upon completion of his contract, Hobday resigned both positions.

Hobday went on to fill the vacant directorial position the late Antonio Modarelli left in the Charleston Symphony Orchestra in 1954. Between 1954 and 1963, Hobday led plays, operas, symphonies, and choir performances. For a brief two weeks, he returned to Texas Christian University to assist with a music clinic. For more than five seasons, he participated in city events and joined concert and opera societies.