The Sheffield Chamber Music Festival returns from Friday 16 to Saturday 24 May 2025, celebrating 20 years of extraordinary music-making with resident musicians Ensemble 360, who have guest curated an unmissable programme of 20 events featuring collaborations with the Elias String Quartet, sitar player Jasdeep Singh Degun, and percussionist Dame Evelyn Glennie.
Ensemble 360’s 20th Anniversary
Ensemble 360 was created by Music in the Round in 2005 to continue the legacy of the Lindsay String Quartet by establishing a chamber music group resident in Sheffield. The ensemble consists of 11 musicians-one piano, five string, and five wind players-who have become known across the UK for their intimate and convention-challenging “in the round” performance style at the Crucible Playhouse. For their anniversary Festival, the group has chosen to revisit some of their earliest performances, including the music from their very first concert, while also showcasing new collaborations.
Beyond their performances at leading recital halls, Ensemble 360 has made significant contributions to music education through community work, introducing thousands of children to classical music through schools and family events. Their impact on the UK’s chamber music scene was recognized with a shortlisting for the Royal Philharmonic Society Ensemble Award in 2023. Horn player Naomi Atherton, who has been with the ensemble since its founding, notes: “The Sheffield audience is very special. One of the things about the Playhouse is the intimacy of the space, you can feel the audience and their feedback.”
Dame Evelyn Glennie Performance
Dame Evelyn Glennie, the world’s premier solo percussionist, will deliver a spectacular performance at the 2025 Sheffield Chamber Music Festival as one of the festival’s highlight events. This Grammy award-winning artist, who led 1000 drummers in the Opening Ceremony of the London 2012 Olympics, will perform “Echoes from the Birdcage” on May 17th in collaboration with composer Jill Jarman. The performance brings to life the dynamic spirit of London’s King’s Cross through a stunning sonic journey that weaves together history, culture, and urban rhythms.
Glennie’s appearance represents a significant artistic collaboration for the festival, showcasing her extraordinary talent alongside her mission to “Teach the World to Listen”. As the first person in history to create and sustain a full-time career as a solo percussionist, her participation adds considerable prestige to the festival’s 20th anniversary celebrations. The New York Times has described her as “quite simply a phenomenon of a performer”, making this one of the most anticipated events in the festival’s program of 20 performances celebrating Ensemble 360’s milestone anniversary.
Jasdeep Singh Degun Sitar Collaboration
Jasdeep Singh Degun, one of the finest sitar exponents and most exciting musicians working today, will bring his innovative cross-cultural artistry to the Sheffield Chamber Music Festival on May 21, 2025, in a special collaboration with Ensemble 360’s string players. This performance, titled “Cycles & Circles,” represents a boundary-breaking partnership that celebrates Ensemble 360’s 20th anniversary with newly commissioned music created collaboratively between Indian and Western classical traditions.
Singh Degun’s participation adds significant prestige to the festival, as he recently made history as the first sitar player and British Asian musician to win the Royal Philharmonic Society’s Instrumentalist Award in 2024. His impressive credentials include serving as composer and co-music director for Opera North’s award-winning reimagining of Monteverdi’s Orpheus and releasing a debut album with legendary producer Nitin Sawhney on Peter Gabriel’s Real World Records. Following this Sheffield performance, Singh Degun and Ensemble 360 will continue their collaborative concert tour with appearances at venues including Saffron Hall on May 31, 2025.
Where to Stay: Best Western Sheffield City Hotel
For those attending the Sheffield Chamber Music Festival 2025, the Best Western Sheffield City Hotel offers a convenient and comfortable stay just a short walk from the Crucible Playhouse and festival venues. Guests will enjoy well-appointed rooms, complimentary Wi-Fi, and a central location ideal for exploring Sheffield’s cultural attractions, restaurants, and nightlife. The hotel team is pleased to welcome festival guests and can provide local guidance and assistance throughout your stay. Early booking is recommended during this busy period in the city.
