Alumni Magazine - Spring 2008 - (Page 54) New Notes: The Beat Goes Tech Classical Expressions and All That Jazz Guthman Keyboard Competition improvises its future By John Dunn R ichard Guthman struck the right chords 10 years ago when he endowed the Margaret A. Guthman Keyboard Competition at Georgia Tech — artistic classical expression on one hand and a blue note for jazz on the other. It also embraces a wide-open future that may raise some eyebrows — electronic instruments. “I don’t know of any other competition that under one roof has both classical and jazz,” says Frank Clark, director of Tech’s music department. Guthman, IE 56, a member of the Alumni Association board of trustees, endowed the keyboard competition in honor of his wife, Margaret. The two categories are classical and jazz/contemporary in two divisions: high school and college. The awards offer a $5,000 grand prize in honor of the late College of Architecture Dean Thomas Galloway and $10,000 in additional awards. The 10th competition was held in February and attracted nearly eight dozen musicians from across the country. “The caliber is unbelievable,” says Margaret Guthman, who is a pianist herself. “I’m exuberant. These kids are such high-quality musicians. It blows me away when I hear them playing — they are so good.” The competition was Richard Guthman’s surprise to his wife. “I knew nothing about it until it was done,” Margaret says. “It’s been so much fun. We’ve seen this grow from four to nearly 100 young musicians.” In 2007, the competition was cov- 54 Georgia Tech Alumni Magazine • Spring 2008
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