Music in the Round
Music in the Round is a charitable organisation based in Sheffield, UK that exists to promote the best in international chamber music and inspire audiences with the unique power and intensity of music played in an intimate setting.
The organisation was formed in the 1980s by Peter Cropper, then the leader of Sheffield's world-renowned string quartet, The Lindsays. Following the retirement of The Lindsays in 2005, Music in the Round formed chamber music group Ensemble 360 to take up residency.
Its home venue, Sheffield's Crucible Studio Theatre, is a wonderfully intimate 'in the round' space where it annually hosts Autumn and Spring series and a nine-day themed May Festival. Music in the Round also works in partnership with a number of venues in Barnsley, Doncaster and across England to help develop audiences for chamber music.
Music in the Round believes classical music is for all so its programmes embraces a breadth of music. It also enjoys collaboration and has worked with a variety of other artforms, artists and organisations including poet Ian McMillan, actors Samuel and Timothy West, composers Huw Watkins and Stephen Montague, choreographer Anna Olejnicki and Museums Sheffield.
Music in the Round is committed to commissioning and presenting the work of living composers and less well-known repertoire alongside more familiar works. In 2011 it appointed Charlie Piper as its first Associate Composer. It's also one of the few organisations in the country to have a Children's Composer in Residence, Paul Rissmann.
Music in the Community is its innovative education programme that delivers activity for all ages and levels of ability. It includes a unique brand of children's concerts that play to sell-out audiences across England, regularly run schools’ workshops, performance and composition classes, early years workshops, concert opportunities for young performers, workshops for amateur musicians, bring and sing events, talks, symposiums, masterclasses and more.