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.

226
signatures
205 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, Radio Arts and Canterbury Christ Church University, Sound artist, lecturer and researcher
  24. Dr Magz Hall, Sound Artist, Academic, Researcher, Canterbury Christ Church University, Canterbury
  25. Salomé Voegelin, Prof. of Sound, University of the Arts London, London
  26. Robin Rimbaud, Composer, Scanner, Wellingborough
  27. Professor Caroline Mitchell, Prof of Radio, University of Sunderland, Newbiggin-by-the-sea
  28. Maria Papadomanolaki, Sound Artist and Researcher, Technical University of Crete, Chania
  29. Nick Vivian, writer, whitstable
  30. Liz Whitehead, Arts Programmer, Curator and Commissioner, Fabrica, Brighton & Hove
  31. Dr Danny Scott, Artist and Academic, Royal Central School of Speech and Drama, Margate
  32. Lawrence Dunn, Composer, Stockport
  33. Vicky Clarke, Sound artist, Freelance, Manchester
  34. Karen Sutton, Director & Lead producer, Oram Awards, Derby
  35. Paul Kendall, AV artist, Worthing
  36. Christian Mason, Composer, London
  37. Gemma Dempsey, Festival Director, Ramsgate Festival of Sound, Ramsgate
  38. Sadie M Hennessy, artist, Mx, Whitstable
  39. Joshua Le Gallienne, sound artist, London
  40. Mr Euan McAleece, Producer, Freelance, Eastbourne
  41. Hannah Marshall, Artist, H+, London
  42. Bobby Jewell, Sound Artist, Glasgow
  43. Hayley Suviste, Sound Artist & Composer, Freelance / Uni of Manchester, Manchester
  44. Siân Landau, Sound Artist, Edinburgh
  45. Simon Wright, Director/Creative Producer, Outlands Network, Milton Keynes
  46. William Crosby, Lecturer/Sound Artist/PhD Student, ARU/UAL:LCC, Cambridge/London
  47. Ellie Wilson, Composer/Musician/Creative Director, Essex
  48. Zoe irvine, artist, Edinburgh
  49. Ilia Rogatchevski, Executive Producer, The Radiophonic Institute, London
  50. Mark Peter Wright, Academic, University of the Arts, London
  51. Isobel Anderson, Artist and Educator, Girls Twiddling Knobs, Hastings
  52. Lois Lelland, Sound Artist, Perth
  53. Emma-Kate Matthews, Architect & Composer, EKM Works & UCL, London
  54. Peter Cusack, Sound artist/musician
  55. Sophie Cooper, Sound artist, Todmorden
  56. Andrey Chugunov, sound artist / curator, _VOID Nomadic Gallery, East Kilbride
  57. Gwen Sion, Composer / Sound Artist, Freelance, Watford
  58. Danny McCarthy, Artist, Lecturer Experimental Sound Practice University College Cork, Midleton
  59. Dr Iris Garrelfs, Senior Lecturer in Sonic Art, Goldsmiths, University of London, London
  60. Fiona Sinead Brehony, Artist/Researcher, Manchester
  61. Andy Hannah, Publicist, BDT Sounds, Glasgow
  62. Dr Cecilia Wee, Tutor, School of Communication, Royal college of art, London
  63. Matt Shenton, Sound Artist, Ipswich
  64. Dr Tansy Spinks, sound artist, ex Mdx University, London
  65. Julia Schauerman, Composer & Researcher, University of the Arts London, Sheffield
  66. Daniel Mackenzie, Artist and producer, Brighton
  67. Matt Lewis, Artist, RCA, London
  68. Louis Gillespie, label manager, accidental records, london
  69. Pedro Figueiredo, Sound artist, Stray wool, Ramsgate
  70. Frazer Merrick, Artist, Colchester
  71. Lukas Hornby BSc MA MIST, Technologist, Outlands Network, Bradford
  72. Jeremy French, artist, Anlaby
  73. Dr Matthew Herbert, Composer, Professor, The Radiophonic Institute, Canterbury
  74. Philippe Glandien, Film Composer & Audio Engineer, Berlin
  75. Alan Smith, Creative Developer/ Engineer, Charanga Ltd, East Sussex
  76. James Wilkie, Sound Artist / Creative Director, Sono-Electro, St. Leonards-on-sea
  77. Chloe Pensavalle, booking agent, Annex Agency, Bradford
  78. Ben Borthwick, Head of Programme, KARST, Plymouth
  79. Elaine Mitchener MBE, Musician, Freelancer, London
  80. Emily Bick, Editor, The Wire magazine, London
  81. Dr. Hannah Kendall, Composer/Lecturer, London
  82. marisse cato, composer, london
  83. Beatrice Dillon, Sound artist, musician, , London
  84. Nicole Raymond (NikNak), Artist, NikNak, LEEDS
  85. Fielding Hope, Senior Producer, Cafe OTO, London
  86. anonymous
  87. Ain Bailey, Artist/Composer/DJ, London, UK
  88. Tej Adeleye, Audio producer/writer, London
  89. Reece Ewing, Filmmaker, London
  90. Guoda Dirzyte, Sound Designer and Composer, Glasgow
  91. John Wills, Immersive Audio Engineer, Positive Ambisonics, Lochgilphead
  92. Graham Dunning, artist researcher, London
  93. Alistair Strachan, Editor, Lost Property Arts Collective CIC, Brighton
  94. Mimi Butler, Artist, Brighton
  95. Safehouse Brighton, Brighton
  96. Hollie Harding, Guildhall School of Music and Drama
  97. gaika tavares, artist, gaika, london
  98. Emmy Lambert, Sound artist, audio engineer, Manchester
  99. Michael Picknett, Composer, London
  100. David Toop, Musician, writer, emeritus Professor, London
  101. Michael Betteridge, Composer, Manchester
  102. Marie McPartlin, Director, Somerset House Studios, London
  103. Remi Graves, musician, St. Leonards-on-Sea
  104. Diana Rodriguez, Composer, Columbia University, New York Q
  105. Irene Revell, Researcher and curator, Goldsmiths, University of London, London
  106. Miya Masaoka, Sound Artist, Columbia University, New York City
  107. Tabitha Thorlu-Bangura, Music curator, Sabi Arts, London
  108. Helen Dewhurst, Sound Artist, Brighton & Hove
  109. Prof John Lervacl Drever, Artist/Researcher, Otoloci, London
  110. Michael Eden, Sonic Artist/Ethnomusicologist, Goldsmiths University, London
  111. Sarah Dacey, Composer and Singer, Juice Vocal Collective, London
  112. Hannah Catherine Jones, Artist-Musician-Broadcaster, London
  113. Dr Gillian Higgins (Curlew), Musician, Sound Designer, Producer, Cryptic, Glasgow
  114. dali de saint paul, Musicians, Music to Come, Bristol
  115. Jockel Loess, Artist / Composer, London
  116. Helen Wallace, Head of Music, Barbican, London
  117. Julie Freeman, artist, Margate
  118. Evan Ifekoya, Artist
  119. Christopher Glasgow, Director, Perth Theatre and Concert Hall, Glasgow
  120. Lomond Campbell, Sound art, Highlands
  121. Lukas Kühne, academic / acoustic sculptor / sound artist / curator, Universidad de la República Uruguay, Montevideo
  122. Hannah Conway, Composer / Director of Sound Voice, Sound Voice
  123. Peter Meanwell, Radio Maker / Curator, Reduced Listening / Lydgalleriet, London / Bergen
  124. Katriona Beales, Artist and Lecturer, LONDON
  125. Stephen Mallinder, Artist, Self employed, Brighton
  126. Dan Jones, Composer and sound artist, Bristol
  127. SARAH SARHANDI, Composer/performer, London
  128. Ray Lee, sound artist, Ray Lee, Chipping Norton
  129. Shamica Ruddock, Artist/Composer, London
  130. Sylvia Ugga, graphic designer, Heni Publishing, London
  131. Hannan Jones, Artist, GLASGOW (GB)
  132. Kathy Hinde, Sound Artist, Bristol
  133. Cathie Boyd, Artistic Director, Cryptic, Glasgow
  134. Jean Martin, Composer, author, Hove
  135. Conall gleeson, Musician, performer, composer, University of brighton, Brighton
  136. Christian Marclay, Artist, Independent, London
  137. Prof. Dr. Michael Harenberg, Lecturer / Composer, University of the Arts Berne, Berne
  138. Giorgos Varoutas, Musician, Tadoma, Athens, Greece
  139. Sabine Schäfer, Freelanced Artist / Sound Art, Karlsruhe 76139
  140. Jamie Moore, AV Technician, The Royal Society, London
  141. Robin Meier Wiratunga, Artist and Professor, IRCAM, Paris
  142. Andi Otto, composer and researcher, Hamburg
  143. Christopher Wangro, Producer, Zaragunda, Inc., Woodstock, NY.
  144. Douglas Henderson, Sound Artist, Berlin - Kreuzberg
  145. Frank Fiedler, sound artist, author, freelancer, Rheinsberg
  146. Daniel Weissberg, Head of Sound Arts Study program (retired), University of the Arts, Bern
  147. Theodora laird, Musician, Na, London
  148. anonymous, musician, voice teacher
  149. Claudia Blacha, artist, Bern
  150. Julian Weaver, Curator, Finetuned Limited, Brighton
  151. Nikolaus Heyduck, Composer/Sound artist, Darmstadt
  152. Hans Peter Kuhn, Artist, artist, Berlin
  153. hollis taylor, musician, Sydney Conservatorium of Music, Alice Springs, Central Australia
  154. Dr Thanos Polymeneas Liontiris, Assistant professor, University of Athens, Athens Greece
  155. Elisabeth Zimmermann, rad7io producer, ORF, Vienna
  156. Chris Sciacca, Research, Sound Art Brighton, brighton
  157. Tom Fisher, Artist / Composer / workshop leader, Glasgow
  158. Jenna Fentimen, Head of Agency, Manners Faber, London
  159. Joseph Young, Artist, Brighton
  160. margaret fiedler mcginnis, Musician/Composer/Sculptor, London
  161. Maja Mihalik, Newbury
  162. Liam Slevin, Artistic Director, The Auxiliary Project Space, Middlesbrough
  163. Wajid Yaseen, Creative Director, Modus Arts, NPO Arts Council, London
  164. Simon Emmerson, composer/performer/writer, Hove
  165. Dr Luc Messinezis, Sound Artist & Academic, University of the Peloponnese, Athens, Greece
  166. Glenn Boulter, Artistic Director, Full of Noises, Barrow-in-Furness
  167. Ehsan Valaei, Musician, London
  168. Martin Green, Music/Sound Art, grateful Ivors Sound Art recipiant 2019, Edinburgh
  169. David petts, Musician, ReR Megacorp, London
  170. Carol Lawrence, Retired, Crowborough
  171. Noor-e-Sehar Ali, Writer, sound artist, London
  172. Lucy Schaufer, musician/producer, Wild Plum Arts, Bradford on Avon
  173. Veronica Petukhov, artist, Veronica Petukhov, Glasgow
  174. will Hughes, Artist, Stockton-on-tees
  175. Jenn Kirby, Composer/performer/lecturer, Liverpool
  176. Frank Schulte, sound and media artist, curator, monheim triennale, cologne
  177. Abi Bliss, Co-director/Project producer, Yorkshire Sound Women Network, Huddersfield
  178. Ruth Jarman, artist, Semiconductor, Brighton
  179. Simon Opit, Retired, Edinburgh
  180. Michele Spanghero, artist, Gorizia, Italy
  181. Johanna Bramli, Academic and Artist, University of Brighton, Brighton
  182. Flurina Mia Häberli, sound artist, musician, Den Haag
  183. Alli Beddoes, CEO & Artistic Director, Lighthouse, Brighton
  184. Alan Licht, author, musician, New York
  185. Christoph Cox, dean, professor, scholar, curator, The New School, New York
  186. Anna Braithwaite, Sound Artist, Folkestone
  187. Maria Chavez, Sound artist, NYC
  188. Milanas Brizinskas, Sound Artist, UAL, London
  189. Katie Anderson, Artist, Dumfries and Galloway
  190. Ecka Mordecai, Sound artist + technician, University of the arts London, London
  191. Jeanne-Marie Varain, artist/musician & producer, Avantgarde Schiphorst e.V., Schiphorst
  192. Bethan Prosser, Researcher, University of Brighton, Brighton
  193. Joanna Penso, Sound artist, London
  194. Hazel Reeves, Artist, Brighton
  195. Sebastiane Hegarty, Artist/Academic, Winchester
  196. shelley saunders, editing / writing, self-employed / various, London
  197. Catherine Clover, Artist, London
  198. Jo Ross, Associate Director, Oxford Contemporary Music, Oxford
  199. James Trice, Freelance audio producer, N/a, Brighton
  200. David de la Haye, Sound Recordist/Composer/Researcher, EcoSound CIC / Newcastle University, Durham
  201. Claudia Molitor, composer/sound artist, Brighton
  202. Annie Ruefenacht, sound artist, composer, University of the Arts Berne, Berne, Bern
  203. John Wynne, Artist and Emeritus Professor of Sound Art, London
  204. Max Eastley, Artist, Freelance, London
  205. Esmeralda Conde Ruiz, artist, London
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