1 July 2025
Open Letter to the Ivors Academy

Dear Ivors Academy,

We want to express our grave concern regarding your decision to remove the Sound Art category from the Ivors Classical Awards.

When the category of Sonic Art (2008-2019) was renamed Sound Art in 2020, many sound practitioners working in this hybrid field felt great pride in being recognised by such an esteemed organisation. It also indicated that the Ivors were responding to modern trends and increasingly exploring more hybrid territories.

We believe it is crucial to recognise the central role that sound art—understood in its broadest sense—plays in shaping contemporary music practice. Removing this category risks narrowing the definition of what counts as classical music in the UK today. That is not only out of step with current practice, but also out of touch with the next generation of composers and artists working across disciplines.

The UK boasts a vibrant sound art community that has produced many innovative and groundbreaking works over the past decades.

We sincerely urge you to reconsider your decision and to reinstate the Sound Art category from 2026 onwards.

Sound Art Brighton.

195
signatures
177 verified
  1. Dr Kersten Glandien, academic / curator, Sound Art Brighton, Brighton
  2. Dr Olivia Louvel, Sound artist/Researcher, Sound Art Brighton, Brighton
  3. chris cutler, musician/author, london
  4. simon james, sound artist, simonsound, Hove
  5. Hannah Kemp-Welch, Artist, London
  6. Dr Louise Gray, writer/lecturer, The Wire, London
  7. Ali Donaldson, Writer, Hove & Saumur
  8. Caroline Kraabel, music creator, Ivors member (Jazz+ committee), ONe_Orchestra New, London
  9. Sound Arts UK, nationwide
  10. Dr Benjamin Tassie, Composer & Researcher, Sheffield
  11. Angus Carlyle, Academic, University of the Arts London, London
  12. Dr Emily Peasgood, Guildhall School of Music and Drama & Emily Peasgood Studio, Ramsgate
  13. Lore Lixenberg, Sound art/voice/musician, York University, London
  14. Katia Farn, organist, choir director, composer, st mary's parish church, handsworth, birmingham
  15. Yvette, Creative, Kent
  16. Dr Joe Inkpen, Musician/composer/educator, Margate
  17. Dr Mark Hanslip
  18. Una Lee, Artist
  19. Emma Margetson, Senior Lecturer in Music and Sound, University of Greenwich, London
  20. Amy Cunningham, academic and artist, University of Brighton, Brighton
  21. Michael J McEvoy, composer, Rezzonator Music Ltd, Ramsgate
  22. Hanna Tuulikki, Artist, composer and performer, Glasgow
  23. Dr Magz Hall, Sound Artist, Academic, Researcher, Canterbury Christ Church University, Canterbury
  24. Salomé Voegelin, Prof. of Sound, University of the Arts London, London
  25. Robin Rimbaud, Composer, Scanner, Wellingborough
  26. Professor Caroline Mitchell, Prof of Radio, University of Sunderland, Newbiggin-by-the-sea
  27. Maria Papadomanolaki, Sound Artist and Researcher, Technical University of Crete, Chania
  28. Nick Vivian, writer, whitstable
  29. Liz Whitehead, Arts Programmer, Curator and Commissioner, Fabrica, Brighton & Hove
  30. Dr Danny Scott, Artist and Academic, Royal Central School of Speech and Drama, Margate
  31. Lawrence Dunn, Composer, Stockport
  32. Vicky Clarke, Sound artist, Freelance, Manchester
  33. Karen Sutton, Director & Lead producer, Oram Awards, Derby
  34. Paul Kendall, AV artist, Worthing
  35. Christian Mason, Composer, London
  36. Gemma Dempsey, Festival Director, Ramsgate Festival of Sound, Ramsgate
  37. Sadie M Hennessy, artist, Mx, Whitstable
  38. Joshua Le Gallienne, sound artist, London
  39. Mr Euan McAleece, Producer, Freelance, Eastbourne
  40. Hannah Marshall, Artist, H+, London
  41. Bobby Jewell, Sound Artist, Glasgow
  42. Hayley Suviste, Sound Artist & Composer, Freelance / Uni of Manchester, Manchester
  43. Siân Landau, Sound Artist, Edinburgh
  44. Simon Wright, Director/Creative Producer, Outlands Network, Milton Keynes
  45. William Crosby, Lecturer/Sound Artist/PhD Student, ARU/UAL:LCC, Cambridge/London
  46. Ellie Wilson, Composer/Musician/Creative Director, Essex
  47. Zoe irvine, artist, Edinburgh
  48. Ilia Rogatchevski, Executive Producer, The Radiophonic Institute, London
  49. Mark Peter Wright, Academic, University of the Arts, London
  50. Isobel Anderson, Artist and Educator, Girls Twiddling Knobs, Hastings
  51. Lois Lelland, Sound Artist, Perth
  52. Emma-Kate Matthews, Architect & Composer, EKM Works & UCL, London
  53. Peter Cusack, Sound artist/musician
  54. Sophie Cooper, Sound artist, Todmorden
  55. Andrey Chugunov, sound artist / curator, _VOID Nomadic Gallery, East Kilbride
  56. Gwen Sion, Composer / Sound Artist, Freelance, Watford
  57. Danny McCarthy, Artist, Lecturer Experimental Sound Practice University College Cork, Midleton
  58. Dr Iris Garrelfs, Senior Lecturer in Sonic Art, Goldsmiths, University of London, London
  59. Fiona Sinead Brehony, Artist/Researcher, Manchester
  60. Andy Hannah, Publicist, BDT Sounds, Glasgow
  61. Dr Cecilia Wee, Tutor, School of Communication, Royal college of art, London
  62. Matt Shenton, Sound Artist, Ipswich
  63. Dr Tansy Spinks, sound artist, ex Mdx University, London
  64. Julia Schauerman, Composer & Researcher, University of the Arts London, Sheffield
  65. Daniel Mackenzie, Artist and producer, Brighton
  66. Matt Lewis, Artist, RCA, London
  67. Louis Gillespie, label manager, accidental records, london
  68. Pedro Figueiredo, Sound artist, Stray wool, Ramsgate
  69. Frazer Merrick, Artist, Colchester
  70. Lukas Hornby BSc MA MIST, Technologist, Outlands Network, Bradford
  71. Jeremy French, artist, Anlaby
  72. Dr Matthew Herbert, Composer, Professor, The Radiophonic Institute, Canterbury
  73. Philippe Glandien, Film Composer & Audio Engineer, Berlin
  74. Alan Smith, Creative Developer/ Engineer, Charanga Ltd, East Sussex
  75. James Wilkie, Sound Artist / Creative Director, Sono-Electro, St. Leonards-on-sea
  76. Chloe Pensavalle, booking agent, Annex Agency, Bradford
  77. Ben Borthwick, Head of Programme, KARST, Plymouth
  78. Elaine Mitchener MBE, Musician, Freelancer, London
  79. Emily Bick, Editor, The Wire magazine, London
  80. Dr. Hannah Kendall, Composer/Lecturer, London
  81. marisse cato, composer, london
  82. Beatrice Dillon, Sound artist, musician, , London
  83. Nicole Raymond (NikNak), Artist, NikNak, LEEDS
  84. Fielding Hope, Senior Producer, Cafe OTO, London
  85. anonymous
  86. Ain Bailey, Artist/Composer/DJ, London, UK
  87. Tej Adeleye, Audio producer/writer, London
  88. Reece Ewing, Filmmaker, London
  89. Guoda Dirzyte, Sound Designer and Composer, Glasgow
  90. John Wills, Immersive Audio Engineer, Positive Ambisonics, Lochgilphead
  91. Graham Dunning, artist researcher, London
  92. Alistair Strachan, Editor, Lost Property Arts Collective CIC, Brighton
  93. Mimi Butler, Artist, Brighton
  94. Safehouse Brighton, Brighton
  95. Hollie Harding, Guildhall School of Music and Drama
  96. gaika tavares, artist, gaika, london
  97. Emmy Lambert, Sound artist, audio engineer, Manchester
  98. Michael Picknett, Composer, London
  99. David Toop, Musician, writer, emeritus Professor, London
  100. Michael Betteridge, Composer, Manchester
  101. Marie McPartlin, Director, Somerset House Studios, London
  102. Remi Graves, musician, St. Leonards-on-Sea
  103. Diana Rodriguez, Composer, Columbia University, New York Q
  104. Irene Revell, Researcher and curator, Goldsmiths, University of London, London
  105. Miya Masaoka, Sound Artist, Columbia University, New York City
  106. Tabitha Thorlu-Bangura, Music curator, Sabi Arts, London
  107. Helen Dewhurst, Sound Artist, Brighton & Hove
  108. Prof John Lervacl Drever, Artist/Researcher, Otoloci, London
  109. Sarah Dacey, Composer and Singer, Juice Vocal Collective, London
  110. Hannah Catherine Jones, Artist-Musician-Broadcaster, London
  111. Dr Gillian Higgins (Curlew), Musician, Sound Designer, Producer, Cryptic, Glasgow
  112. dali de saint paul, Musicians, Music to Come, Bristol
  113. Jockel Loess, Artist / Composer, London
  114. Helen Wallace, Head of Music, Barbican, London
  115. Julie Freeman, artist, Margate
  116. Evan Ifekoya, Artist
  117. Christopher Glasgow, Director, Perth Theatre and Concert Hall, Glasgow
  118. Lomond Campbell, Sound art, Highlands
  119. Lukas Kühne, academic / acoustic sculptor / sound artist / curator, Universidad de la República Uruguay, Montevideo
  120. Hannah Conway, Composer / Director of Sound Voice, Sound Voice
  121. Peter Meanwell, Radio Maker / Curator, Reduced Listening / Lydgalleriet, London / Bergen
  122. Katriona Beales, Artist and Lecturer, LONDON
  123. Stephen Mallinder, Artist, Self employed, Brighton
  124. Dan Jones, Composer and sound artist, Bristol
  125. SARAH SARHANDI, Composer/performer, London
  126. Ray Lee, sound artist, Ray Lee, Chipping Norton
  127. Shamica Ruddock, Artist/Composer, London
  128. Sylvia Ugga, graphic designer, Heni Publishing, London
  129. Hannan Jones, Artist, GLASGOW (GB)
  130. Kathy Hinde, Sound Artist, Bristol
  131. Cathie Boyd, Artistic Director, Cryptic, Glasgow
  132. Jean Martin, Composer, author, Hove
  133. Conall gleeson, Musician, performer, composer, University of brighton, Brighton
  134. Christian Marclay, Artist, Independent, London
  135. Prof. Dr. Michael Harenberg, Lecturer / Composer, University of the Arts Berne, Berne
  136. Giorgos Varoutas, Musician, Tadoma, Athens, Greece
  137. Sabine Schäfer, Freelanced Artist / Sound Art, Karlsruhe 76139
  138. Jamie Moore, AV Technician, The Royal Society, London
  139. Robin Meier Wiratunga, Artist and Professor, IRCAM, Paris
  140. Andi Otto, composer and researcher, Hamburg
  141. Christopher Wangro, Producer, Zaragunda, Inc., Woodstock, NY.
  142. Douglas Henderson, Sound Artist, Berlin - Kreuzberg
  143. Frank Fiedler, sound artist, author, freelancer, Rheinsberg
  144. Daniel Weissberg, Head of Sound Arts Study program (retired), University of the Arts, Bern
  145. Theodora laird, Musician, Na, London
  146. anonymous, musician, voice teacher
  147. Claudia Blacha, artist, Bern
  148. Julian Weaver, Curator, Finetuned Limited, Brighton
  149. Nikolaus Heyduck, Composer/Sound artist, Darmstadt
  150. Hans Peter Kuhn, Artist, artist, Berlin
  151. hollis taylor, musician, Sydney Conservatorium of Music, Alice Springs, Central Australia
  152. Dr Thanos Polymeneas Liontiris, Assistant professor, University of Athens, Athens Greece
  153. Elisabeth Zimmermann, rad7io producer, ORF, Vienna
  154. Chris Sciacca, Research, Sound Art Brighton, brighton
  155. Tom Fisher, Artist / Composer / workshop leader, Glasgow
  156. Jenna Fentimen, Head of Agency, Manners Faber, London
  157. Joseph Young, Artist, Brighton
  158. margaret fiedler mcginnis, Musician/Composer/Sculptor, London
  159. Maja Mihalik, Newbury
  160. Liam Slevin, Artistic Director, The Auxiliary Project Space, Middlesbrough
  161. Wajid Yaseen, Creative Director, Modus Arts, NPO Arts Council, London
  162. Simon Emmerson, composer/performer/writer, Hove
  163. Dr Luc Messinezis, Sound Artist & Academic, University of the Peloponnese, Athens, Greece
  164. Glenn Boulter, Artistic Director, Full of Noises, Barrow-in-Furness
  165. Ehsan Valaei, Musician, London
  166. Martin Green, Music/Sound Art, grateful Ivors Sound Art recipiant 2019, Edinburgh
  167. David petts, Musician, ReR Megacorp, London
  168. Carol Lawrence, Retired, Crowborough
  169. Noor-e-Sehar Ali, Writer, sound artist, London
  170. Lucy Schaufer, musician/producer, Wild Plum Arts, Bradford on Avon
  171. Veronica Petukhov, artist, Veronica Petukhov, Glasgow
  172. will Hughes, Artist, Stockton-on-tees
  173. Jenn Kirby, Composer/performer/lecturer, Liverpool
  174. Frank Schulte, sound and media artist, curator, monheim triennale, cologne
  175. Abi Bliss, Co-director/Project producer, Yorkshire Sound Women Network, Huddersfield
  176. Ruth Jarman, artist, Semiconductor, Brighton
  177. Simon Opit, Retired, Edinburgh
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