The Society periodically presents a bust of Giuseppe Verdi to outstanding artists and other emissaries of opera. Past recipients of the Verdi bust are: sopranos Shirley Verrett and Janet Williams, mezzosopranos Cecilia Bartoli and Irina Mishura, tenors Luciano Pavarotti and George Shirley, bassos Ara Berberian and Michele Pertusi, conductors Leslie Dunner and Suzanne Mallare-Acton, and Michigan Opera Theatre's Director David DiChiera and the Director of MOT's Community Programs Karen VanderKloot DiChiera.