MBSI Awards are given at the business meeting or awards luncheon at each Annual Meeting. Members wishing to have someone considered for an award may forward their suggestion, with the rationale, to the contact person noted for each award.
The Lifetime Service Award is given for a lifetime of service to the ideals and goals of MBSI. This is a special award given infrequently by the Trustees. Award suggestions may be sent to the Vice President.
The Trustees’ Award is given to the person who has made the greatest contribution to the Society and/or the field of automatic musical instruments in general. This award is given at the discretion of the Trustees. Award suggestions may be sent to the Vice President.
The Q. David Bowers Literary Award is given to the person who in that year or any previous year, has contributed greatly to the fund of literature either articles or books or other graphic contributions in the field covered by the Society. The award recipient is chosen by the MBSI Publications Committee, subject to the concurrence of the Trustees. Award suggestions may be sent to the Chair of the Publications Committee.
The Darlene Mirijanian Award is given for creativity in the field of mechanical music, to stimulate and encourage interest in producing new items of interest. Award recipients are chosen by the Nominating Committee, subject to the concurrence of the Trustees. Award suggestions may be sent to Chair of the Nominating Committee.
The Roehl Ambassador Award is given to an individual, group, or couple for promoting interest in and appreciation of automatic musical instruments. The award recipient is chosen by an Award Selector appointed by the Trustees. The Award Selector chooses from nominations submitted by MBSI chapters and members, subject to the concurrence of the Trustees. Award suggestions may be sent to the Vice President for forwarding to the current Award Selector.
The President’s Award is given at the discretion of the President for outstanding work or service, subject to the concurrence of the MBSI Executive Committee.
Trustees Award
for outstanding contributions to the field of automatic music
| Byron Merrick | 1976 |
| Marguerite Fabel | 1977 |
| Ruth Bornand | 1978 |
| Lloyd Kelley | 1979 |
| Murtogh Guinness | 1980 |
| Hughes Ryder | 1981 |
| Howard & Helen Fitch | 1982 |
| Frank Holland | 1983 |
| Ed Freyer | 1984 |
| Marion Levy | 1985 |
| Jack Hardman | 1986 |
| Ben & Mary Lilien | 1987 |
| Rita Ford | 1988 |
| Herman & Etta Ellenberger | 1989 |
| Peter Schuhknecht | 1990 |
| Harvey & Marion Roehl | 1991 |
| Arthur Sanders | 1992 |
| Bob & Diane Yates | 1993 |
| Ralph Heintz | 1994 |
| Bud Bronson | 1995 |
| Ron & Mary Jo Bopp | 1996 |
| Ralph & Gloria Schack | 1997 |
| Nancy Fratti | 1998 |
| Del Lohuis | 1999 |
| Emery Prior | 2000 |
| Chuck Walker | 2001 |
| Frank Metzger | 2002 |
| Carla Wiemer | 2003 |
| Frank Rider | 2004 |
| William H. Edgerton | 2005 |
| Jasper & Marian Sanfilippo | 2006 |
| Robin Biggins | 2007 |
| David & Carol Beck | 2008 |
| Arthur C. Cunliffe | 2009 |
| Olin Tilotson | 2010 |
| Coulson Conn | 2011 |
| Steve Boehck | 2012 |
| Mike Ames | 2013 |
| B Bronson | 2014 |
| Alan Bies | 2015 |
| Wayne & Mary Ellen Myers | 2016 |
| Rick Swaney | 2017 |
| Art Reblitz | 2018 |
| Marty Persky | 2019 |
| Mary Pollock | 2020 |
| Jody Kravitz | 2021 |
| Russell Kasselman | 2022 |
| Mark Yaffe | 2024 |
| Arthur W.J.G. Ord-Hume | 2024 |
Q. David Bowers Literary Award
for outstanding literary contributions to the field of automatic music.
| Arthur W.J.G. Ord-Hume | 1976 |
| Helen & Howard Fitch | 1977 |
| Olin Tillotson | 1978 |
| Harvey Roehl | 1979 |
| Joseph Roesch | 1980 |
| Frank Metzger | 1981 |
| Art Reblitz | 1982 |
| James Spriggs | 1983 |
| Joseph Schumacher | 1984 |
| Conn Coulson | 1985 |
| Angelo Rulli | 1986 |
| Hendrik Strengers | 1987 |
| Martin Roenigk | 1988 |
| Ralph Heintz | 1989 |
| H. A. V. Bulleid | 1990 |
| Albert Choffnes | 1991 |
| Jan Jaap Haspels | 1992 |
| Christian Eric | 1993 |
| Graham Webb | 1994 |
| Etienne Blyelle | 1995 |
| Jurgen Hocker | 1995 |
| Alexander Buchner | 1996 |
| Larry Karp | 1997 |
| Romke deWaard | 1998 |
| Philippe Rouille | 1999 |
| Dr. Herbert Juttemann | 2000 |
| Luuk Goldhoorn | 2001 |
| Kathleen Eric | 2002 |
| Steve Boehck | 2003 |
| Kevin McElhone | 2004 |
| Jean-Claude Piguet | 2005 |
| Larry Givens | 2006 |
| H. A. V. Bulleid | 2007 |
| Christian Bailly & Sharon Bailly Kerman | 2008 |
| Timothy C. Fabrizio & George F. Paul | 2009 |
| Tom Meijer | 2010 |
| Matthew Caulfield | 2011 |
| Kevin McElhone | 2012 |
| Roy Ison | 2013 |
| Ron Bopp | 2014 |
| Paul Bellamy | 2016 |
| Q. David Bowers | 2017 |
| Matt Jaro | 2018 |
| Terry Smythe | 2019 |
| Paul Bellamy | 2020 |
| Art Reblitz | 2021 |
| Paul Bellamy | 2023 |
Unsung Hero Award
given to those quiet people who often do not get recognized yet perform significant work in the background to make MBSI function
| Paul Senger | 2017 |
| Don Henry | 2018 |
| Emery Prior | 2018 |
| Knowles Little | 2019 |
| Diane Lloyd | 2020 |
| Lowell Sundermann | 2021 |
| Tracey and Merrie Tolzman | 2024 |
Lifetime Service Award
David Corkrum 2024
Robin Biggins 2023
Ralph Heintz 2004
Q. David Bowers 2004
Marguerite Fabel 1999
Ruth Bornand 1999
Musical Box Society International President’s Award
| Louis Hoone | 1963 |
| Marguerite Fabel | 1963 |
| Nancy Fratti | 1991 |
| Ralph Schack | 1991 |
| William Edgerton | 1991 |
| David Ramey Sr. | 1994 |
| Charlie Hind | 1994 |
| Fredy Baud | 1995 |
| Dave Beck | 1995 |
| Ron Bopp | 1995 |
| Terry Clayton | 1995 |
| Franklin Corya | 1995 |
| Vicky Glasgow | 1995 |
| Larry Karp | 1995 |
| Ted & Irene Leverett | 1995 |
| Del Lohuis | 1995 |
| Emery Prior | 1995 |
| Frank Rider | 1995 |
| Steve Ryder | 1995 |
| Maureen Saboda | 1995 |
| Bob & Diane Yates | 1995 |
| Sylvia Caporale | 1996 |
| Angelo Rulli | 1996 |
| Ralph Schack | 1996 |
| Gloria Stevenson | 1996 |
| Carla Weimer | 1996 |
| Ted & Irene Leverett | 1997 |
| Chuck Walker | 1997 |
| Kevin Kline | 1997 |
| Carol Beck | 1997 |
| Jere Ryder | 1997 |
| Emery Prior | 1997 |
| Gloria Schack | 1997 |
| Alan Bies | 1997 |
| Nancy Fratti | 1997 |
| Walter Moore | 1997 |
| Walter Moore | 1998 |
| Kathleen Eric | 1998 |
| Hendrik Strengers | 1998 |
| Paul Seiz | 1999 |
| Joseph Schumacher | 1999 |
| Steve Boehck | 1999 |
| Chuck Walker | 1999 |
| Dwight Porter | 2001 |
| Wade Jenkins | 2001 |
| Kazuo Murakami | 2001 |
| Walter Moore | 2001 |
| Wayne Holton | 2001 |
| Terry Haughawout | 2001 |
| Takao Kato | 2001 |
| Ed Schmidt | 2001 |
| Al Meekins | 2001 |
| Barry Johnson | 2001 |
| Bill Ullstrom | 2002 |
| Al Meekins | 2002 |
| Paul Ottenheimer | 2002 |
| Jere Ryder | 2002 |
| Matthew Caulfield | 2002 |
| Rosanna Harris | 2003 |
| Hayden Grooms | 2004 |
| Taizou Murakami | 2004 |
| Matthew Caulfield | 2006 |
| Margaret Bisberg | 2006 |
| Marvin Polan | 2007 |
| Bob Taylor | 2008 |
| Don Neilson | 2012 |
| Jerry & Ginni Fry | 2012 |
| Linda Berman | 2013 |
| Betty Toth | 2013 |
| Mary Pollock | 2013 |
| Clay Witt | 2014 |
| Carol Beck & Bill Griffin | 2015 |
| Robin Biggins | 2016 |
| Dan Wilson | 2017 |
| Bill Wineburgh | 2018 |
| Nancy Fratti | 2019 |
| Sachiya Sasaki | 2020 |
| Ed Kozak | 2021 |
| Bill and Stacy Nunn | 2024 |
Darlene Mirijanian Award
given for creativity in the field of mechanical music in order to stimulate and encourage interest in producing new items of interest.
| Susan Jackson | 1996 |
| Dwight Porter | 1997 |
| Wayne Stahnke | 1998 |
| Robin Timms | 1999 |
| Barry Johnson | 2000 |
| David Ramey | 2002 |
| Don Stinson | 2003 |
| David Wasson | 2004 |
| Lester Jones | 2005 |
| Charles Moore | 2006 |
| Kazuo Tashiro | 2007 |
| Takao Kato | 2008 |
| Dr. Frank Himpsl | 2011 |
| Wayne Holton | 2012 |
| Jack Perron | 2013 |
| Mike Ames & Bob Brown | 2014 |
| Knowles Little | 2015 |
| Wayne Finger | 2016 |
| Martin Molin | 2017 |
| Charlie Moore | 2019 |
| Jonathan Herz | 2020 |
| Michael Trémouille | 2022 |
| Wayne Finger | 2023 |
| Michael Falco | 2024 |
Roehl Ambassador Award
given for consistently endeavoring to introduce people to the field of mechanical music.
| Bill & Carolyn Shaffer | 2001 |
| Ed & Carol Ditto | 2001 |
| Kazuo Murakami | 2001 |
| John & Nan Flint | 2002 |
| JB & Dorothy Nethercutt | 2002 |
| Marvin & Dianne Polan | 2002 |
| Jasper & Marian Sanfilippo | 2002 |
| Ralph Schultz | 2003 |
| Sylvi & Jim Caporale | 2004 |
| Kay & Ted Brown | 2005 |
| The Kurt Elbers Family | 2006 |
| Frank & Shirley Nix | 2007 |
| Knowles & Ginny Little | 2008 |
| John Motto-Ros | 2009 |
| Tom Wurdeman | 2010 |
| Gloria & Ralph Schack | 2011 |
| Mike and Marilyn Ames | 2012 |
| Jim and Sherrie Krughoff | 2013 |
| Jack and Mildred Hardman | 2014 |
| Dave Corkrum | 2015 |
| Jack Hostetler | 2016 |
| John and Linda Birkitt | 2017 |
| Dwight Porter | 2020 |
| Peter Both | 2022 |
| Arnold Chase | 2023 |
| Dan Zelinsky | 2024 |