The award was established in 1985 as the ''Affiliate Artists' Seaver Conducting Award''. The award was being given every two or three years. The award was conceived by the Seaver Institute and funded by the Seaver Institute and the
National Endowment for the Arts. From 1987 to 1993 it was administered by the
New World Symphony of Miami. It was then administered by the
Juilliard School. ==Award winners==