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 on our culture. Composers Now presents the Visionary Awards each year at the Composers Now Festival Opening Event.
| "Mamie's Lament" from Emmet Till: The Opera "Pap's Song" from | 
| "Fanfare for the Uncommon Woman" (1986) | 
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| Award presented by Henry Threadgill | 
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| Laura Kaminsky | T.J. Anderson | 
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| photo by Caroline Conejero | photo by Jeffrey Herman | 
| Cecille Wasserman | Frank J. Oteri | 
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| Muhal Richard Abrams | Thomas Buckner | Pauline Oliveros | 
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| John Duffy | Frances Richard |