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, Suzanne Mallare-Acton, and Steven Mercurio; and Michigan Opera Theatre's Director David DiChiera and the Director of MOT's Community Programs Karen VanderKloot DiChiera.