About the Venue
Firth Hall is a refined concert and performance venue located within Firth Court, one of the University of Sheffield’s most striking historic buildings. Set inside this Edwardian, Grade II-listed red-brick landmark on Western Bank, the hall is celebrated for its high vaulted ceiling, oak panelling and large leaded windows, creating superb acoustics and an elegant atmosphere ideal for live music and spoken-word events.
With a seating capacity of around 380, Firth Hall is used extensively throughout the year for the University’s concert programme, including the University Concerts Series. Performances range from accomplished student and professional orchestras to chamber music, recitals and contemporary and experimental compositions presented under the Sound Junction banner. Classical in character but varied in programming, Firth Hall is a respected cultural venue within Sheffield’s academic and music scene.
Key details
Venue: Firth Hall, Firth Court
Address: Western Bank, Sheffield
Capacity: Approx. 380
Type: Concert hall
Building status: Grade II listed
Setting: University of Sheffield campus
Primary use: Classical, orchestral and contemporary concerts
Getting there
Enter Firth Court via the main entrance facing Western Bank
Walk up the main staircase to the first floor, where Firth Hall is located
Elegant, central and acoustically impressive, Firth Hall is a standout venue for concerts and cultural events in Sheffield, blending academic heritage with a vibrant live performance programme.
Upcoming Events
One of the most distinctive voices in contemporary piano performance comes to Sheffield as Xenia Pestova Bennetttakes centre stage for Sounds of Now, performing the extraordinary prepared piano works of pioneering composer Annea Lockwood.
Described as “a powerhouse of contemporary keyboard repertoire” (TEMPO), Pestova Bennett is a long-time collaborator of Lockwood and brings rare insight, precision and sensitivity to this immersive and exploratory programme.
What is prepared piano?
In Annea Lockwood’s hands, the piano becomes a sound laboratory. Ribbons, objects and a transducer speaker are placed inside the instrument, transforming its voice into something otherworldly — percussive, resonant and richly textural. This concert also features one of Lockwood’s pioneering electroacoustic works and a playful performance piece that breaks free of the stage entirely.
The programme
Annea Lockwood – Ear-Walking Woman (14’)
Xenia Pestova Bennett – Iridescence (7’)
Xenia Pestova Bennett – Tapetum lucidum (8’)
Annea Lockwood – Red Mesa (15’)
Annea Lockwood – Ceci n’est pas un piano (12’)
Electroacoustic interlude – Buoyant (6’)
RCSC (4’)
Gone (variable) – featuring a music box floated through the concert hall using helium balloons
The result is a concert experience that is as visual and spatial as it is musical — playful, thought-provoking and unlike anything else in the piano repertoire.
Why this concert matters
This is a rare opportunity to hear Annea Lockwood’s music performed by one of its foremost interpreters, alongside new works by Pestova Bennett herself. For fans of experimental music, sound art and boundary-pushing performance, this is an unmissable evening.
Part of Music in the Round Sheffield:
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🎟 Tickets & full details:
https://www.sheffieldtheatres.co.uk/events/sounds-of-now-annea-lockwood-prepared-piano