2026 Finalists | Guthman Musical Instrument Competition
Ten innovators from six countries advanced to the competition's final round. They met on the Georgia Tech campus in Atlanta, Georgia on March 13 and 14, 2026, to compete for $10,000 in prizes. Each finalist and their instrument has a compelling story — these are the world's next generation of musical instruments. The Amphibian Modules are modular synthesizers that communicate through electrodes submerged in lightly salinated deionized water. Electrical connections form dynamically based on proximity, creating complex and shifting networks of modulation that would be difficult to replicate with traditional patching. Each module functions independently, with a single-board design that integrates the faceplate and circuitry, allowing for modular reconfiguration and simplifying construction. The Demon Box is an instrument that captures electromagnetic frequencies from everyday electronics and transforms them into audio signals, MIDI data, and control voltage. With a 3-channel inductor layo