2023 Composers Now Festival Opening Event

Monday, January 30, 2023, 8:00 PM EST

Marc Scorca Hall of the National Opera Center
Livestream available

The Opening Event of the thirteenth annual Composers Now Festival featured a vibrant program of music by living composers hosted by Composers Now founder and artistic director, Tania León.

The Composers Now Visionary Award recognizes members of the arts community who, through their own creative practice and advocacy for others, have made a profound, positive and lasting impact in our culture. The 2023 Composers Now Visionary Awards were presented to:


Adolphus Hailstork	Ellen Taaffe Zwilich

The First Commission Award provides young composers with support aimed to encourage artistic potential and creative development. Selected composers receive a Composers Now commission and world premiere. This annual award is generously made possible by Michael Minard and Phyllis Ross. The 2023 First Commission Award was presented to:

Dorian Tabb

Hymn for a Forgotten People
Performed by

Bergamot Quartet

Video presentations from residents of the Fall 2022 Composers Now Composers Creative Residency, co-produced with the Asian Cultural Council and Pocantico Center of the Rockefeller Brothers Fund.