 After initial planning that started in 1944, the Hochschule was founded in 1946 as Nordwestdeutsche Musikakademie Detmold.In 1956 the name was officially expanded to Nordwestdeutsche Musikakademie Detmold, Staatliche Hochschule für Musik.After the Hochschule in Münster and Dortmund were officially merged with the Detmold Hochschule, the name was changed again in 1972 to Staatliche Hochschule für Musik Westfalen-Lippe.