The Distinguished Service to Music Medal is the highest award presented by the Fraternity. It was instituted in 1963 to honor outstanding individual contributions to bands. The areas of recognition include: composition, concert band, marching band, instrumental music education, artist performer, industrial research and progress, contributing laymen, alumni achievement, and fraternity service. Nominations are accepted by the National Council at any time and should include a letter of nomination, a resume, and letters of recommendation from individuals who know the nominee well.
Award Recipients
Composition
For outstanding contributions to original music, transcriptions, or arrangements for band that are accepted nationally. Recipient would most probably be a composer or arranger.
| 1963-65 | Morton Gould |
| 1965-67 | Karl L. King |
| 1969-71 | Lucien Caillet |
| 1971-73 | Robert Jager |
| 1975-77 | Robert Bennett |
| 1983-85 | Charles Carter |
| 1985-87 | Clare Grundman |
| 1987-89 | W. Francis McBeth Claude T. Smith Fisher Tull |
| 1989-91 | Alfred Reed |
| 1991-93 | James Barnes H. Owen Reed |
| 1999-2001 | Frank Tichelli |
| 2005-2007 | Karel Husa Donald Grantham |
| 2009-2011 | Adam Gorb Mark Camphouse |
| 2017-2019 | Julie Giroux |
| 2021-2023 | John Mackey Robert W. Smith |
Concert Band
For national recognition in any and all of the following: instrumental clinics, guest conducting, publication, etc.
| 1963-65 | William D. Revelli Frank Simon |
| 1965-67 | Harold Bachman |
| 1967-69 | Clarence Sawhill |
| 1969-71 | Richard Goldman |
| 1971-73 | Mark Hindsley |
| 1977-79 | Raymond Dvorak Frederick Fennell Col. Arnald Gabriel |
| 1981-83 | Al Wright |
| 1985-87 | Harry Begian Col. John Bourgeois John Paynter |
| 1987-89 | Ray Cramer |
| 1989-91 | Hugh McMillen |
| 1991-93 | Kenneth G. Bloomquist Richard Strange |
| 1993-95 | H. Robert Reynolds James Sudduth |
| 1995-97 | Frank B. Wickes Don Wilcox Richard Worthington |
| 1997-99 | Dr. James Croft |
| 1999-2001 | Robert Foster Gary Garner John Whitwell |
| 2005-2007 | Craig Kirchoff James F. Keene Dr. Johnnie Vinson |
| 2009-2011 | Dr. Joseph P. Missal William V. Johnson |
| 2011-2013 | Dr. William K. Wakefield |
Marching Band
For national recognition in any or all of the following: marching clinics, publications, and/or marching innovations.
| 1963-65 | Eugene Weigel |
| 1965-67 | Glenn C. Bainum |
| 1969-71 | Jack Lee |
| 1971-73 | William Foster William Moffitt |
| 1979-81 | Truman Crawford |
| 1981-83 | Al Wright |
| 1993-95 | Conrad Hutchinson, Jr. |
| 1999-2001 | Keith Bearden Dr. Robert “Coach” Fleming Gary E. Smith |
| 2005-2007 | Issac Greggs Dr. Jack R. Anderson |
| 2007-2009 | George N. Parks Jon R. Woods |
| 2009-2011 | Dr. David Patrick Dunnigan Dr. Julian White |
| 2019-2021 | Thomas P. Hannum |
| 2023-2025 | John Bradley McDavid |
Instrumental Music Education
For outstanding contributions in the fields of instrumental clinics, publications, and other matters pertaining to music education, or for national recognition of an elementary or secondary school band program.
| 1963-65 | H.E. Nutt Paul Yoder |
| 1967-69 | Manley Whitcomb |
| 1969-71 | Robert Arthur |
| 1971-73 | Bertram Francis |
| 1975-77 | Hiram Henry |
| 1979-81 | John Long |
| 1983-85 | Richard Bowles |
| 1989-91 | James K. Copenhaver Stanley F. Michalski, Jr. |
| 1991-93 | Walter M. Chesnut Thomas Henry Delaine Emery L. Fears Henry Levy |
| 1997-99 | James Jacobsen Elden Janzen Gary Langford Dr. Clifford Madsen |
| 1999-2001 | Fred Hemke Dr. Tim Lautzenheiser |
| 2001-2003 | Ken Singleton Melvin Miles, Jr. Alfred Sergel, III |
| 2003-2005 | Melborn Nixon |
| 2005-2007 | Paul Droste Bentley Shellahammer |
| 2009-2011 | Dr. David Gregory Earl Dunn |
| 2013-2015 | Richard Floyd |
Artist Performer
For outstanding contributions by an artist on a particular band instrument, through the media of guest performances and clinic appearances.
| 1963-65 | Sigurd Rascher |
| 1965-67 | Leonard Smith |
| 1967-69 | Leonard Falcone |
| 1969-71 | Carl H. “Doc” Severinsen |
| 1971-73 | Eugene Rousseau |
| 1977-79 | Harvey Phillips |
Industrial Research and Progress / Industry
For a manufacturer, publisher, or their representatives, who have made technical advancements or outstanding national contributions to the band field.
| 1963-65 | Earl Kent |
| 1967-69 | Nels Vogel |
| 1969-71 | Traugott Rohner |
| 1971-73 | Nilo Harvey |
| 1999-2001 | Jim Cochrane |
| 2005-2007 | Steve West |
| 2009-2011 | Mark Morette |
| 2021-2023 | Dr. Mark Spede |
Contributing Layman
For outstanding contributions on a national scale to the band field by persons who are not professional band directors or performers.
| 1963-65 | Meredith Wilson |
| 1965-67 | Guggenheim Family of New York |
| 1967-69 | Adolph Ostwald |
| 1971-73 | Forrest McAlister |
| 1975-77 | Robert Kamm |
| 1983-85 | Louis Sudler |
| 1989-91 | James G. Saied |
Alumni Achievement
For outstanding contributions to the national band scene by a graduated member of the Fraternity.
| 1963-65 | Herman B. Wells |
| 1965-67 | F. Lee Bowling |
| 1989-91 | Hugh McMillen |
| 2017-2019 | Alfred Watkins |
Fraternity Service
Recognizing outstanding service or contributions to the growth and development of the Fraternity by one of its members.
| 1963-65 | A. Frank & Grace Martin |
| 1965-67 | J. Lee Burke William Scroggs |
| 1969-71 | Donald Moore |
| 1971-73 | D.O. Wiley |
| 1989-91 | Hugh McMillen Max and Susan Mitchell |
| 1991-93 | Stanley G. Finck |
| 1995-97 | Kenneth M. Corbett |
| 2001-2003 | Christopher Haughee |
| 2007-2009 | Scott E. Stowell |
| 2011-2013 | Wava Banes Henry |
| 2015-2017 | Dr. Malinda Matney |
| 2017-2019 | Derrick Mills Dr. Kirk Randazzo |
| 2019-2021 | Brent Cannon Daniel A. George Tony Falcone Mike Osborn |
Conducting
| 2005-2009 | Don McGinnis Dr. William Gora |
| 2007-2009 | Joseph Hermann |
| 2009-2011 | Lt.Col. Alan L. Bonner Michael Haithcock Jerry F. Junkin |
| 2011-2013 | Paula Crider Eugene Migliaro Corporon |
| 2013-2015 | Gary W. Hill |
| 2015-2017 | Dr. Michael Golemo |
| 2017-2019 |
Gary D. Green |