Newark School of Musical Instrument Crafts is closing

May 28th, 2025

As of the 7th of May, it was announced that Lincoln College will accept no new students onto the musical instrument craft courses at Newark. The three-year BA Hons in woodwind making is affected among others.

The instrument making courses on offer in Newark are more than just qualifications from a college. They have made Newark into a hub of musical instrument crafts and created a community to nurture and support makers through their training and beyond.

On these four distinct courses violin makers, guitar makers, piano technicians, and woodwind specialists learn the skills they need for fruitful careers, preserving traditional knowledge that could otherwise be lost.

The reason given is that the college has not received enough applicants for the forthcoming academic year, which is a tragedy in its own right as instrument making and repair can be a fulfilling and rewarding career. There is already a shortage of instrument makers and repairers in the UK, with many following this career approaching or having reached retirement age. Closure of these courses means there will be no formal route into this career available in the UK any more.

If you would like to sign a petition to save the school, please do so here: Save the Newark School of Musical Instrument Crafts!