The Guthman Musical Instrument Competition is a glimpse into the future of music-making—one shaped by engineers, musicians, and inventors pushing the boundaries of sound. Held annually at Georgia Tech, the event brings together instrument-makers that reimagine how music is played and experienced.
This year’s finalists formed a striking range, some engaging with sound through raw physicality—breath, bowing, plucking—while others channeled electromagnetic forces or algorithmic intelligence. But whether digital or analogue, acoustic or electronic, this year’s instruments foregrounded the relationship between performer and instrument, inviting touch, resistance, and direct interaction.
