The Department of Music at the University of Nottingham reaches across the whole university, providing enriching opportunities for everyone. At its very core are the dedicated music students who not only benefit educationally and creatively but also significantly contribute to the cultural vibrancy of the campus. Many of these students play vital roles in the running of student music societies and ensembles, enriching campus life for the entire student body and the wider community.

The sudden decision to suspend the undergraduate music courses threatens to dismantle this integral part of our university's culture and community. Music education offers students a unique opportunity to develop skills in creativity, critical thinking, collaboration, and emotional expression. By suspending these courses, the university risks depriving students of essential educational experiences that foster well-rounded individuals prepared for diverse futures.

This decision threatens to end over a century of music education in the East Midlands, offered continuously since the University opened in 1881. Across that time, the Department has educated thousands of composers, researchers, performers, educators and other creative professionals. Its graduates have taken up leadership roles within the country’s leading arts organisations, fostering creativity and growth within the UK’s dynamic creative industries. It remains a centre of world-leading research, using music to explore and address complex societal and global challenges.

The Department is deeply embedded in the local community, working with schools, music hubs, community groups and venues. Its closure would not only dismantle a thriving academic and cultural institution but also severely diminish musical life and future opportunities across Nottingham, the wider East Midlands and the nation as a whole.

The loss of music courses also impacts the work of professional musicians who teach. Music courses draw musicians and students in alike. It means a loss of career opportunities and loss of jobs, not just for musicians but those in the supply chain. Ultimately, if left unchecked, it will lead to an erosion of the music economy and cultural offer of the city as a whole which affects everyone. Musicians will simply seek out work and creative opportunities elsewhere leaving us all financially and culturally worse off.

We call on the University of Nottingham's administration to reconsider and reverse the suspension of undergraduate music courses. Preserving these crucial programmes is vital not only for current and prospective students but for the cultural legacy and community spirit of our cherished university.

Please show your support by signing this petition. Your voice can help us persuade the decision-makers to recognise the invaluable role of music education in our university and community. Together, we can save the soul of our university and ensure that music continues to thrive at the University of Nottingham. Sign now to make a difference!