8 December 1865
Born Johan Julius Christian Sibelius in Hämeenlinna (Finland)
1880
Violin lessons and first composition attempts
1885 - 1889
Studies music at the Helsinki Music Institute (today: Sibelius Academy): violin with Mitrofan Wasiljeff and music theory, harmony and counterpoint with Martin Wegelius
1886
Changes his first name to Jean
1888
Is supported by Ferruccio Busoni who becomes piano teacher at the Institute and encourages Sibelius to expand his composition activities
1889 - 1890
Studies with Albert Becker (counterpoint) at the Faculty of the Berlin Akademie der Künste
1890 - 1891
Studies with Robert Fuchs and Karl Goldmark at the Vienna Conservatoire
1892 - 1901
Teaches music theory and violin playing at the Helsinki Music Institute and at the Orchestra School of Robert Kajanus
1892
Marries Aino Järnefelt
1893
World premiere of the symphonic poem En Saga in Helsinki
1896
World premiere of the "Lemminkäinen Suite" in Helsinki
1897
Sibelius receives a life pension from the Finnish government which makes him financially independent.
1899
World premiere of Symphony No. 1 in E minor Op. 39 in Helsinki
1900
His daughter Kirsti dies of typhus.
World premiere of the symphonic poem Finlandia Op. 26 in Helsinki
Robert Kajanus' orchestra tour of Germany and France with works by Sibelius helps the composer to make his international breakthrough.
Sibelius moves to Berlin for several months.
1902
World premiere of Symphony No. 2 in D major Op. 43 in Helsinki
1903
Meets the publisher Robert Lienau
1904
World premiere of the Violin Concerto in D minor Op. 47 and of Valse triste, Op. 44 in Helsinki
Moves to Järvenpää near Helsinki
1905
Successful concert tour in England
World premiere of the incidental music of Pelléas et Mélisande in Helsinki
Concludes author-publisher agreement with Robert Lienau in Berlin
1906
World premiere of the symphonic fantasy Pohjola's Daughter in Sankt Petersburg
1907
World premiere of Symphony No. 3 in C major Op. 52 in Helsinki
1908
World premiere of the Svanehvit Suite in Helsinki
1909
Tour of Great Britain with his own works
World premiere of the string quartet Voces intimae and of the symphonic poem Night Ride and Sunrise Op. 55 in Sankt Petersburg
1911
World premiere of Symphony No. 4 in A minor Op. 63 in Helsinki
1914
Successful concert tour to New York including the world premiere of the symphonic poem The Oceanides at the Norfolk Music Festival
Receives an honorary doctorate from the universities of Yale and Helsinki
1915
World premiere of Symphony No. 5 in E flat major Op. 82 in Helsinki
1923
World premiere of Symphony No. 6 in D minor Op. 104 in Helsinki
1924
World premiere of Symphony No. 7 in D minor Op. 105 in Stockholm
1925
Receives pension from the State of Finland
World premiere of the symphonic poem Tapiola Op. 112
1929
Reduces his work as a composer
Honorary member of the Londoner Royal Philharmonic Society
1941
Elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences
1945
Sibelius destroys the manuscripts of his Eighth Symphony after having worked on it for many years.
1957
Dies in Järvenpää on 20 September