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From 20 May-3 June, the Lindsay String Quartet (Peter Cropper, Ronald Birks, Roger Bigley and Bernard Gregor-Smith) presents the first Sheffield Chamber Music Festival in the Crucible Studio Theatre, dedicated to performances of Beethoven's String Quartets and Piano Sonatas (performed by Bernard Roberts). They are joined by Peter Hill (piano), Benjamin Frith (piano), Antony Hopkins, Janet Hilton (clarinet) and Ronan O'Hora (piano). Tickets cost £3.50 for evening concerts and £2 for lunchtime concerts. This first Festival was brought about by the combined efforts of The Lindsay's Peter Cropper, Tony Thornton and David Brown from the board of Sheffield Theatres Trust, and the support of the Yorkshire Arts Association.

The Lindsays perform a series of events as part of Sheffield Philharmonic Concerts in Upper Chapel, on Norfolk Street. Upper Chapel has remined a regular venue for Music in the Round events to this day.

Sheffield Chamber Music Festival returns to the Crucible Studio for its second year, this time focusing on the chamber music of Schubert.

Robin Ireland's first Sheffield Chamber Music Festival as viola player for the Lindsay String Quartet. The Festival focuses on the chamber music of Mozart and is held once again in the Crucible Studio Theatre.

The Lindsay String Quartet and guests focus on the music of Schumann, Mendelssohn and Brahms for the annual festival of chamber music.

The Linsdays and friends return to the theme of Beethoven's chamber music for their fifth festival in the Crucible Studio Theatre.

In addition to May's Sheffield Chamber Music Festival, the Lindsay String Quartet hosts a second festival of chamber music from 15-20 July as part of the Universiade cultural festival in celebration of the World Student Games taking place in Sheffield.

The world premiere of Sir Michael Tippett's Fifth Quartet is performed by The Lindsays at the Crucible Studio Theatre. Commissioned by The Lindsays specifically for performance at the Sheffield Chamber Music Festival, the commission was supported by funding from the Mayfield Valley Arts Trust with assistance from Yorkshire & Humberside Arts.

Sheffield Chamber Music Festival launches its first ever 'Music in the Round' series of autumn concerts in the Crucible Studio, in partnership with Sheffield Theatres. The initiative is closely allied to the two organisations' mutual ambition to develop the Studio into a larger, 400-seater theatre venue with an additional 2nd tier of seats in the future.

Music in the Round hosts a 25th Birthday Concert for the Lindsay String Quartet in Sheffield's Crucible Studio Theatre with Peter Frankl on piano.

Music in the Round presents a week-long festival of French music at Wigmore Hall with The Lindsays and friends.

Sheffield Chamber Music Festival wins the prestigious 'best concert series and events' prize at the Royal Philharmonic Society's annual awards.

The Crucible Studio Theatre re-opens with a gala concert following a £400,000 transformation from a 250-seater venue to a capacity of almost 400, with improved acoustics suitable for broadcasting and recording following a three year 'raising the roof' campaign.

World famous pianist Alfred Brendel is among the first star guests to grace the Crucible Studio's stage as part of Music in the Round's regular concert series following the reopening of the newly refurbished and larger capacity theatre.

Music in the Round appoints a new full-time administrator, Tracey Waters, to run Sheffield Chamber Music Festival and the Music in the Round concert series from the Sheffield office.

Plans for 'Music in the Round around the country' concerts are first developed, including discussions with other 'in the round' venues such as the Stephen Joseph Theatre in Scarborough, the Old Laundry in Bowness-on-Windermere and the New Victoria Theatre in Stoke.

Music in the Round's Artistic Director and leader of The Lindsays, Peter Cropper, scoops one of just six Creative Briton 2000 awards recognising his vision, leadership and creativity in the arts. The award includes a prize of £20,000 that is earmarked for new education projects and the opportunity to take Music in the Round 'around the country' to a number of new venues.

Music in the Round presents a production of Benjamin Britten's 'Noye's Fludde' at Sheffield Cathedral, with over 100 young people from across the city, many with little or no prior musical experience, performing alongside professional musicians and singers.

Young string players from secondary schools in Sheffield embark on a string ensemble development programme called Highly Strung, with violinist Martin Cropper and cellist Liz Hanks. Delivered with funding from the National Foundation for Youth Music and Sheffield Arts Education among others, the project includes two week-long summer schools, as well as regular workshops in schools and performances.

The 20th edition of the Sheffield Chamber Music Festival takes place in the Crucible Studio. Audiences are invited to vote for their favourite pieces for performance in this Festival, including in the opening gala event which includes Beethoven's String Quartet Op.131, Schubert's 'Trout' (with pianist Kathryn Stott), Stravinsky's 'The Rite of Spring' with Peter Hill and Benjamin Frith, and Spohr's Octet.

Music in the Round launches a new 'Around the country' touring series of concerts featuring musicians including The Lindsays and other chamber ensembles. The expansion to 10 venues in Scarborough, Warwick, Bowness-on-Windermere, Halifax and Newcastle-under-Lyme, among others, is thanks to a major grant from Arts Council England.

Music in the Round presents the first concert of music written by young people from Sheffield schools who have been involved in our Powerplus project. Led by Robin McEwan, the Powerplus project continued in schools until 2018. The philosophy of the Powerplus programme continues to this day at Music in the Round through our national WeCompose project.

Music in the Round with Sheffield Children's Festival presents 'Daughter of the Sea', the world premiere of a new opera by composer Richard Chew and author Berlie Doherty in the Crucible Theatre. The production includes many children from schools across Sheffield, together with professional musicians including the Lindsay String Quartet and baritone Roderick Williams.

The Lindsays' final Festival before retirement takes place from 7-14 May in the Crucible Studio, including a reunion with the viola player from the early Lindsay years, Roger Bigley. This is followed by a farewell weekend in the Crucible Theatre in July, joined by special guests and friends including Kathryn Stott (piano), Janet Hilton (clarinet), Nicholas Daniels (oboe), Nina Martin (violin) and Martin Cropper (violin).

The Crucible Theatre hosts four final farewell concerts with the Lindsay String Quartet and guests. Presented in the main theatre space, a set of unique sound reflectors were designed and built by The University of Sheffield to improve the acoustics for chamber music for these concerts.

Music in the Round holds a weekend of gala concerts in Sheffield with a focus on Mozart to welcome new residents Ensemble 360. The new group, established with support from Arts Council England, comprises the Elias String Quartet, Tim Horton (piano), Brian Walters (horn), Ben Hudson (bassoon), Adrian Wilson (oboe), Matthew Hunt (clarinet) and Guy Eshed (flute).

Music in the Round holds a 24-hour marathon of Mozart's music on his 250th birthday. The fundraiser generates £25,000 for the Lindsay Endowment Fund, a fund set up by The Lindsays and Music in the Round to ensure the continuation of music performance and education work in Sheffield and beyond.

The first Sheffield Chamber Music Festival featuring new Music in the Round resident group Ensemble 360. They are joined by many other musicians over the nine days including the Vertavo Quartet, Benjamin Frith (piano), Martin Roscoe (piano), and Peter Cropper, who continues as Music in the Round's Artistic Director.

Laurene Durantel joins Ensemble 360 as the new double bass player.

Naomi Atherton joins Ensemble 360 as the new horn player, following Brian Walters departure.

Festival number 25 is celebrated with performances from Ensemble 360 and guests including violinists Claudia Ajmone-Marsan (who later joined as a member of Ensemble 360), Ronald Birks, Peter Cropper, Martin Cropper, pianists Benjamin Frith, Jonathan Gooing, Peter Hill, viola player Robin Ireland, bassoonist Adam MacKenzie, cellist David Waterman and the Navarra Quartet. The Festival takes place in Upper Chapel, while the Crucible Theatre undergoes major refurbishment works.

The world premiere of Giddy Goat, Music in the Round's first storybook commission from Paul Rissmann, is held in Sheffield Cathedral. Based on the picture book by Jamie Rix and Lynne Chapman, and performed by Ensemble 360 and Polly Ives, the production is the first of many collaborations with the award-winning composer, whose concerts with Music in the Round have gone on to be enjoyed by over 100,000 children in Sheffield and around the country.

Benjamin Nabarro (violin), Claudia Ajmone-Marsan (violin) and Marie Macleod (cello) are appointed as the newest members of Ensemble 360 in anticipation of the Elias Quartet's final Festival with Music in the Round in May 2009.

All four members of the Lindsay String Quartet are granted the Honorary Freedom of the City of Sheffield for their contributions to music-making and performance in the city.

The first Festival to be devised in its entirety by Ensemble 360 under the guidance of Artistic Director Peter Cropper. The Festival is also the last to feature the Elias Quartet as a part of Ensemble 360, as they have become so in demand around the country and internationally. For a second year, the Festival takes place in Upper Chapel while the Crucible Theatre continues to undergo its major refurbishment.

Back in the Crucible Studio, this is Music in the Round's final Festival with Peter Cropper as Artistic Director. It has a focus on the Classical Revolutionaries Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven and Schubert performed by Ensemble 360 and guests. Angus Smith becomes the new Artistic Director, and remains in post until 2020.

Gemma Rosefield (cello), Juliette Bausor (flute), Amy Harman (bassoon) and Judith Busbridge (viola) all join as the newest members of Ensemble 360.

The University of Huddersfield appoints Ensemble 360 as their Ensemble-in-Residence.

Ensemble 360 releases a CD of Poulenc's chamber music.

Charlie Piper is appointed as Music in the Round's Associate Composer, with commissions planned for the following three years. Paul Rissman becomes Children's Composer-in-Residence.

Paul Rissmann wins Composer of the Year in the education category at the British Academy of Songwriters, Composers and Authors annual awards, for his Music in the Round storybook commission 'The Chimpanzees of Happy Town'.

Music in the Round wins the Royal Philharmonic Society's prestigious Award for Chamber Music and Song.

Paul Rissmann wins the David Bedford Music Education Award for Music in the Round storybook commission 'Stan and Mabel'.

Music in the Round and The University of Sheffield collaborate to create a new classical music listings website for the whole of Sheffield, bringing together music-makers and ensembles from across the city. Out of this was born Classical Sheffield to promote more music, in more places, with more people. Its biennial Classical Weekend Festivals have now reached over 60,000 people, many being introduced to classical music for the first time.

Music in the Round purchases a new Steinway piano, thanks to generous support from Friends and supporters of Music in the Round.

Music in the Round launches a new professional development scheme, 'Bridge', to support emerging musicians over a number of years. A selection panel including Peter Cropper and John Suchet choose the Marmen Quartet. Peter says “Performing is all about communication. It's telling a story and I feel the Marmen are dedicated to this ideal."

Two 'Celebration of Peter Cropper' memorial concerts are held, one at Upper Chapel, and the second in the Crucible Studio, marking what would have been the 70th birthday of Music in the Round's founder, and former leader of the Lindsay String Quartet, following his sudden passing in May 2015.

The first Schubert in Schools pilot project goes into secondary schools in Sheffield, providing singing and composition workshops for young people, as part of the city's Music Hub-led Spring of Singing initiative. The project culminates in a concert at Upper Chapel with over 120 pupils from Fir Vale and Handsworth Grange schools performing alongside Roderick Williams. This goes on to inspire a year-long national singing and composition project, Schubert in Schools, with Roderick Williams and Christopher Glynn working with young people around the country in 2018.

Ruth Gibson joins Ensemble 360 as their new viola player.

The annual festival is re-launched as Sheffield Chamber Music Festival (a return to its original name), with a continued focus on resident musicians Ensemble 360 who remain at its heart. The Ensemble is joined by Singer-in-Residence Roderick Williams for the first night, with guest appearances throughout the week including mezzo-soprano Katarina Karneus, harpist Catrin Finch, kora player Seckou Keita, and Professor Marcus du Sautoy.

The second phase of our Bridge scheme launches. Creating opportunities in classical music for Black and ethnically diverse musicians, the scheme brings four student string players together to explore chamber music as part of a three-year training and mentoring programme.

Sheffield Chamber Music Festival 2019 takes place in the Crucible Studio with Ensemble 360. Special guest appearances include pianist Stephen Hough, actor Henry Goodman and folk stars Leveret appearing alongside storyteller Hugh Lupton. A day of special events at Yellow Arch Studios in Kelham Island includes an exploration of the story of Noor Inayat Khan and music from Indian classical violinist Kamalbir Singh with John Ball on tabla.

With the world in lockdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic, our planned Festival for 2020 in the Crucible Studio is cancelled. A rapidly assembled lockdown version of 'Sheffield Chamber Music Festival at home' instead features a series of videos created by Ensemble 360 and guests from their homes, for viewing online via YouTube. In total, over 7,800 viewers watch more than 2,500 hours of music videos over the course of a weekend, comprising both long-standing supporters of Music in the Round and new audiences from around the world.

Undeterred by ongoing restrictions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, we stage our first ever Festival of live-streamed and digitally recorded performances from the Crucible Studio. Over the course of five days, over 1,800 viewers from around the UK and beyond engage with our online Festival content, watching over 900 hours of music online. This includes three videos of pieces recorded in 360°, one of which is viewed over 14,000 times.

The first full in-person Festival since the pandemic, Sheffield Chamber Music Festival takes a new format with guest curators invited to take the programming lead each year. This year's Festival is curated by Scottish composer Helen Grime. Ensemble 360 musicians are joined by special guests including Ruby Hughes and Joseph Middleton, plus folk superstar Karine Polwart.

A new Bridge Ensemble is appointed by Music in the Round. For phase 3 of the professional development scheme we bring together five young wind players to create a brand new wind ensemble showcasing talent drawn from backgrounds under-represented in chamber music.

Ensemble 360 welcomes Rachel Roberts as its new viola player, and Robert Plane as the new clarinettist.

The first WeCompose pilot project is launched, a project inspired by our previous Schubert in Schools and Powerplus projects for secondary school pupils. The aim of this new composition project is to inspire and build confidence in pupils and teachers alike, and is rolled out in Sheffield first, before expanding to have a national remit in 2024, thanks to additional funding from the Paul Hamlyn Foundation.

2023's Sheffield Chamber Music Festival features guest curation (and numerous appearances) by pianist Kathryn Stott. Star guests performing alongside Ensemble 360 and Kathy include trumpet player Tine Thing Helseth, bandoneon player JP Jofre, composer Graham Fitkin, harp player Ruth Wall, violinist Pavel Fischer and saxophonist Amy Dickson.

Celebrating 40 years of Music in the Round, Sheffield Chamber Music Festival is curated by Steven Isserlis. He performs in two concerts during the nine days of the festival, which features special guests including baritone Roderick Williams and Lindsay violist Robin Ireland.