Guthman graphic with gold and navy hexagon instrument images

Guthman Musical Instrument Competition

Guthman Musical Instrument Competition

The Guthman Musical Instrument Competition is one of the only competitions of its kind - an event dedicated to identifying the newest and greatest ideas in music. Every year, we invite musical inventors from around the world to share their creations and ideas about the future of music.

Guthman Competition Participant performs their instrument

Call for Submissions

2024 Competition

Musical inventors from around the world are invited to submit their instruments to the 2024 Guthman Musical Instrument Competition.

Every year, we invite musical inventors to share innovative musical instruments at the intersection of musicality, design, and engineering. The Guardian called the competition "The Pulitzer of the New Instrument World."

The deadline for submissions is October 3, 2023.

Thinking about Submitting Your Work?

Watch our participant info session webinar that introduces the 2024 edition of the competition, explains how to effectively present work, and answers potential participants' questions.

Panelists

Picture of Jason Freeman

Jason Freeman

Co-director of Guthman 2024
Professor at the Georgia Tech School of Music

Picture of Gil Weinberg

Gil Weinberg

Co-director of Guthman 2023
Professor at Georgia Tech School of Music

Picture of Morwaread Farbood

Morwaread Farbood

Judge of Guthman 2023
Professor at NYU Steinhardt

25th Guthman Musical Instrument Competition Winners

This year's Guthman Musical Instrument Competition featured nine finalists from six countries. Hosted by the School of Music, the event identifies next-generation musical instruments and the best new ideas in musicality, design, and engineering.

The winners of the 25th Guthman Musical Instrument Competition received cash prizes and one-of-a-kind musical instrument trophies designed by School of Industrial Design students.

Zen flute

First Place:
Zen Flute

Keith Baxter
United States

Abacusynth

Second Place:
Abacusynth

Elias Jarzombek
United States

Hitar

Third Place:
Hitar

Martelloni, McPherson, Barthet
United Kingdom

Abacusynth wins the People's Choice award

People's Choice:
Abacusynth

People's Choice:
Abacusynth

Dániel Váczi performs the Glissotar

Ten Instruments That Will Change How You Think About Music

In celebration of the 25th Guthman Musical Instrument Competition that took place this past March, we put together a list of competitors from previous years that really impressed us. Watch their videos and see for yourself what the future of music might be!

Dániel Váczi shows the Glissotar to School of Music students

Students Touch the Future of Music at Guthman Competition

For Georgia Tech's music technology majors, the Guthman Musical Instrument Competition represents the pinnacle event of their creative study and research. Students help produce the concert, exhibit their work, and learn from the judges and competitors. They even get to play the instruments!

A robotic arm playing the drums

Our Latest Music Technology Research

Click the link below to read about the groundbreaking research conducted by Georgia Tech Center for Music Technology researchers and School of Music Students. This research aims to transform the ways we create and experience music and to create the next generation of technology for composition, performance, consumption, and education.

Start Your Music Technology Journey

At the Georgia Tech School of Music, our students combine technical skill with exceptional music talent to truly change the way the world experiences music. Learn more about our bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degree programs in music technology, our pre-college summer studio, and our innovative research labs.

Guthman Musical Instrument Competition Updates

Sign up for our Guthman Musical Instrument Competition communications to receive updates on milestones for the 2024 competition, as well as information regarding our 2024 finalists, events, and concert.

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