Rob Hall studied music on the joint course at Manchester University and the Royal Northern College of Music, prioritising composition and clarinet, and later, saxophone. In his first term he won a composition competition judged by Sir James MacMillan. Gaining further awards including the Proctor Gregg Performance Award and the Terence Greaves Award for Big Band Writing, he then won a scholarship to Berklee College of Music USA, primarily to study jazz.

He has built a diverse catalogue with many commissions, writing for choirs, chamber and jazz orchestras solo works, small groups, and multi-media work. His music has been performed in such venues as the Royal Festival Hall and Barbican in London, the Martin Harris Centre and RNCM Concert Hall in Manchester, and the Royal Concert Hall and University Concert Hall in Glasgow, and in settings such as Edinburgh Jazz Festival and Glastonbury Festival.

Following his first publication, a commission from ABRSM, he has since had music published by BrassWind, Trinity College, Forton Music and Clifton Edition (who have republished his piano volumes formerly with Spartan Press).
As a leader and co-leader he has released nine albums of original and improvised music for the British contemporary music label FMR, also the main recording outlet for a longstanding partnership with Scottish pianist and composer Chick Lyall.