The Chicago Chamber Musicians (CCM) was founded in 1986 by a group of prominent musicians and chamber music devotees for the purpose of building an internationally-recognized Chicago institution devoted to the study and performance of chamber music.

CCM began in 1986 as the resident ensemble of WFMT and that same year inaugurated its year-round, free First Monday Series at the Chicago Cultural Center. Repeated requests from listeners led CCM to create its annual subscription series in 1988. CCM also started offering education programs in Chicago public schools in 1988, and created its annual Family Concerts in 1996 to nurture the enjoyment of chamber music among young audiences. Ten years later it launched an annual series dedicated to fostering greater exposure and appreciation for contemporary composers and piloted the first phase of its Chamber Music Professional Development Program (PDP) to pass on its significant knowledge to the next generation of professional musicians. In later years, the organization offered school groups free transportation to its First Monday series and offered concerts at architecturally interesting city venues.

The Chicago Chamber Musicians voted to discontinue artistic operations after 28 years at the close of the organization's 2014 fiscal year. Declining audiences and difficulty in avoiding operational deficits lead to the organization’s demise.