2023 Miguel del Aguila
2022 Stacy Garrop
2021 Jake Runestad
2020 No guest composer
2019 Robert Paterson
2018 Marc Mellits
2017 Narong Prangcharoen
2016
 - Libby Larsen
 - James Beckel
2015 Carter Pann
2014 Derek Bermel
2013 Evan Chambers
2012 Christopher Theofanidis
2011 Eric Ewazen
2010 Gabriela Frank
2009 Steve Reich (PP, 2009)
2008 Dan Locklair
2007 David Baker
2006 Augusta Read Thomas
2005 Roberto Sierra
2004 Tod Machover
2003 Stephen Paulus
2002 Chen Yi
2001 Richard Einhorn
2000 Aaron Jay Kernis (PP, 1998; GA, 2002)
1999 Shulamit Ran (PP, 1991)
1998 Michael Daugherty
1997 George Crumb (PP, 1968)
1996 Libby Larsen
1995 Samuel Adler
1994 Karel Husa (PP, 1969; GA, 1993)
1993 Chinary Ung (GA, 1989)
1992 David Del Tredici (PP, 1980)
1991 John Harbison (PP, 1987)
1990 John Corigliano (PP, 1990; GA, 1991)
1989 William Bolcom (PP, 1988)
1988 Joan Tower (GA, 1990)
1987 Gunther Schuller (PP, 1994)
1986 Bernard Rands (PP, 1984)
 - Maximo Flugelman
 - Alexina Louie
1985 Joseph Schwantner (PP, 1979)
1984 Ellen Taaffe Zwilich (PP, 1983)
1983 Ned Rorem (PP, 1976)
1982 Jacob Druckman (PP, 1972)
1981 George Rochberg
1980 Martin Mailman
1979 (Sept.) None
1979 (Jan.) William Kraft
1978 Barney Childs
1977 Elliot Schwartz
1976 David Cope
 - William Maloof
 - David Baker
1975 David Del Tredici (PP, 1980)
1974 H. Grant Fletcher
1973 Russell J. Peck
1972 No Festival
1971 Michael Colgrass (PP, 1978), Donald Erb
1970 Jon Polifrone
1969 Arthur Custer
 - Ross Lee Finney
 - Nikolai Lopatnikoff
 - Ron LoPresti, Elliott Schwartz
 - Laurence Taylor
1968 Leslie Bassett (PP, 1966)
 - Jack Beeson
 - Thomas Beversdorf
 - Thomas Bricetti
 - Roy Travis
1967 Donaldson Lawhead
 - Jon Polifrone
 - Paul Schwartz
 - Donald White
 - Charles Wuorinen (PP, 1970)
 - Richard Yardumian

GA—University of Louisville Grawemeyer Award winner and year
PP—Pulitzer Prize winner and year