Richard Hosford has a busy career as a soloist and chamber musician, as well as being principal clarinet of the BBC Symphony Orchestra since 1994, having previously been principal clarinet with the London Philharmonic. As a member of the Chamber Orchestra of Europe for more than 20 years he toured the world, performing as a soloist with them and recording the Mozart and Copland concertos as well as all the major repertoire for wind ensemble with their wind soloists. He has recorded with the chamber ensemble Domus and the Florestan Trio. He is a leading member of the Gaudier Ensemble and has recorded many works for strings and wind with them.

In recent years his recordings of the Copland Concerto and the Brahms Trio have both been rated ʻFirst choiceʼ by BBC Radio 3 Record Review. In 1998 he became a member of the Nash Ensemble. He teaches at the Royal College of Music.