Who is David Hobson?
Working musician and performer still working on my craft.
What would you do differently from what you do now?
Be more decisive, worry less, think more, do more.
Who inspires you and why?
On a humane level, ex-AFL Footballer and coach, and 2025 Australian of the Year, Neale Daniher. Cruelly dealing with MND but choosing to head the Fight MND fund to find a cure for this beastly disease. His motto is ‘When all is said and done, more is said than done’. The mark of a person is not what they say but what they do.
Musically, hard to go past the polymath Leonard Bernstein; he wanted to do it all – and did! Also my Mum. Her Mantra was ‘If you’re feeling down and sorry for yourself, go and help someone else and you’ll both feel better’.
What would you do to make a difference in the world?
As the Mythologist and Philosopher Joseph Campbell noted, all the world religions and creation myths have more similarities than not. Would be good to have everyone acknowledge that and be more generous. Try to quell the human desire for greed on every level. Big ask!
Favourite holiday destination and why?
As a family we love the Great Ocean Road. It’s beautiful, rugged, sometimes challenging (the surf) and no matter what the season it’s always inspirational and revitalizing.
When friends come to town, what attraction would you take them to, and why?
The MCG. It’s a theatrical coliseum offering unscripted drama on an operatic scale. Can be like an unchoreographed ballet with athletes (and supporters) performing with unbridled passion and skill displaying feats of courage and poetic athleticism.
What are you currently reading?
Weep, Shudder, Die by American poet laureate Dana Gioia who looks at opera from the perspective of its text and libretti. Also revisiting Great Expectations.
What are you currently listening to?
Podcasts: The Rest Is History and Making Sense with Sam Harris. Musically the list is very long but today I’ve listened to David Byrne’s American Utopia, Brahms String sextet No. 1 and the ocean.
Happiness is?
Waking up every day.
What does the future hold for you?
I tend not to think too far into the future – always been a project-to-project type person. Having said that there will be more creating, performing, learning and revelling in family and sport and other activities with friends.
David will celebrate 40 Years of Morning Melodies in a special series of concerts at Hamer Hall on Monday 3 February 2025. For more information, visit: www.artscentremelbourne.com.au for details.
Image: David Hobson – photo by Marnya Rothe