Alfred Hobday

British classical violin & viola player, and teacher. Born 19 April 1870 in Faversham, Kent, England, UK - Died 23 February 1942 in Tankerton, Kent, England, UK. He studied violin & viola, piano, organ, and theory at Royal College of Music, London. He played in several leading string quartet musical ensembles but much of his career was spent as an orchestral musician. He led the Royal Philharmonic Society's violas for several years. In 1900, he was appointed solo violist at the Orchestra Of The Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, remaining there until 1914. He was also the leading viola of the Royal Philharmonic, of the Goossens' Orchestra, and of the London Symphony Orchestra from its inception in 1904 until 1930; he left the LSO in 1937. He taught at the London Academy of Music. He married the pianist Ethel Hobday in 1895. Older brother of Claude Hobday.