In odd years, the honorary awards are granted to Danish musicians and composers. The awards are handed out in connection with a concert arranged by the foundation, during which as well compositions by Carl Nielsen as compositions by the recipients of the award are played.
The honorary award to musicians and composers was granted for the first time in 1959 and amounted to DKK 15,000. The First recipient was professor and composer Vagn Holmboe. In total 68 musicians and composers have received honorary awards from the foundation.
The next time honorary awards will be granted to musicians and composers will be in the fall of 2019.
| Year and musician / composer |
|---|
| 1959: Professor Vagn Holmboe |
| 1961: Conductor Thomas Jensen |
| 1963: Composer Bernhard Lewkovitch |
| 1965: Composer Niels Viggo Bentzon |
| 1965: Composer Poul Rovsing Olsen |
| 1967: Composer Thomas Koppel |
| 1969: Composer Per Nørgaard |
| 1971: Composer Ib Nørholm |
| 1973: Professor Erling Bløndal Bengtsson |
| 1973: Composer Pelle Gudmundsen-Holmgreen |
| 1974: Violinist Emil Telmanyi |
| 1975: Conductor Ole Schmidt |
| 1977: Composer Mogens Winkel Holm |
| 1979: Professor Herman D. Koppel |
| 1981: Composer Svend Nielsen |
| 1981: Conductor John Frandsen |
| 1983: Composer Finn Høffding |
| 1985: Composer Svend Erik Tarp |
| 1987: Composer Poul Ruders |
| 1987: Concert conductor Anton Kontra |
| 1989: Composer Axel Borup-Jørgensen |
| 1989: Composer Hans Abrahamsen |
| 1989: Singer Mette Ejsing |
| 1989: Professor, fløjetenist Poul Birkelund |
| 1991: Conductor Thomas Vetö |
| 1991: Oboist Bjørn Carl Nielsen |
| 1991: Composer Erik Norby |
| 1991: Composer, professor Karl Aage Rasmussen |
| 1991: Composer Bent Sørensen |
| 1993: Composer Niels Rosing-Schow |
| 1993: Composer Erik Højsgaard |
| 1993: Solo clarinetist Niels Thomsen |
| 1995: Composer, docent Bent Lorentzen |
| 1995: Composer Ivar Frounberg |
| 1995: Pianist, docent Anne Øland |
| 1997: Composer Bernhard Lewkovitch |
| 1997: Composer Anders Nordentoft |
| 1997: Conductor Michael Schønwandt |
| 1999: Organist, professor Grethe Krogh |
| 1999: Composer, professor Jørgen Jersild |
| 1999: Composer Palle Mikkelborg |
| 2001: Composer Tage Nielsen |
| 2001: Composer Per Nørgaard |
| 2001: Violinist Nikolaj Znaider |
| 2003: Conductor Thomas Dausgaard |
| 2003: Composer Pelle Gudmundsen Holmgreen |
| 2005: Opera singer Bo Skovhus |
| 2005: Opera singer Inger Dam Jensen |
| 2005: Composer Karsten Fundal |
| 2007: Composer Ole Buck |
| 2007: Pianist Elisabeth Westenholz |
| 2009: Violinist Serguei Azizian |
| 2009: Composer Ib Nørholm |
| 2009: Composer Anders Brødsgaard |
| 2011: Composer Finn Savery |
| 2011: Composer Thomas Agerfeldt Olesen |
| 2011: Violinist Frederik Øland |
| 2011: Violinist Tousgaard |
| 2011: Bratschist Asbjørn Nørgaard |
| 2011: Cellist Frederik Sjölin |
| 2013: Composer Simon Steen Andersen |
| 2013: Opera singer Henriette Bonde-Hansen |
| 2015: Composer Juliana Hodkinson |
| 2015: Composer John Frandsen |
| 2015: Musician Andreas Brantelid |
| 2017: Musician Ulla Miilmann |
| 2017: The Nighingale String Quartet |
| 2017: Composers Birgitte Alsted and Line Tjørnhøj |