AWARDS & RECOGNITION
Member Awards
The MBA Awards Luncheon takes place annually at the Manitoba Music Conference each October. Registration for the conference will open soon.
​
Tempo: Manitoba Music Conference
Friday, October 24, 2025
Mennonite Brethren Collegiate Institute
173 Talbot Ave, Winnipeg
​
The Award of Distinction recognizes an individual who has made an outstanding contribution to music education in Manitoba. An awards committee will select the recipient. MBA members are encouraged to complete a NOMINATION FORM. Submission deadline - 5pm, June 30, 2025.
​
2023 - Mark Sawatzky
2022 - Richard Gillis
2021 - Darryl Ferguson
2020 - Jeff Johnson
2019 - Robert Payne
2018 - Judy Giesbrecht
2017 - Andrew Klassen
2016 - Janet Yochim
2015 - Jacquie Dawson
2014 - Eric Marshall
2013 - Cheryl Ferguson
2012 - Wendy McCallum
2011 - Tricia Howe
2010 - John Balsillie
2009 - William Gordon
2008 - Laurel Ridd
2007 - Bert Kroeker
2006 - Joe Alme
2005 - Bill Kristjanson
2004 - Bob Miller
2003 - Orvin Anderson
2002 - Fraser Linklater
2001 - Jim Mackay
2000 - Ken Epp
1999 - Teresa Lee
1998 - Marlene Stephen
​
1997 - Tony Klein
1996 - Brent Campbell
1995 - Edward Lujan
1994 - George Douglas
1993 - Art Buss
1992 - Connie Turner
1991 - Jane Paulson
1990 - Eilene Paterson
1989 - Mary Carlson
1988 - Muriel Milgrom
​The Outstanding Administrator award honours a current school administrator (Principal, Vice-Principal, Superintendent or Assistant Superintendent) who has made an outstanding contribution to music education in Manitoba. An awards committee select the recipient. MBA members are encouraged to complete a NOMINATION FORM. Submission deadline - 5pm, June 30, 2025.
​
2024 - Pat Graham, Principal, École Secondaire Sisler High
2023 - Not awarded
2022 - Carberry Collegiate Team, Ryan Robson and Bruce McCallum
2021 - Westwood Collegiate Administrative Team, Kevin Dueck, Sarah James, & Leah Jones
2020 - Michael Babb, Principal, Elmwood High School
2019 - Janice Bonner, Vice Principal, R. D. Parker Collegiate
2018 - Bob Hummelt, Principal, Westgate Mennonite Collegiate
2017 - Scott Jantzen & Carrie Friesen, Principal & Vice-Principal, Garden Valley Collegiate
2016 - Diana Posthumus, Principal, River East Collegiate
2015 - Lydia Hedrich, Assistant Superintendent, Seven Oaks School Division
2014 - Michelle Lawrence, Principal, Westdale School
2013 - Irene Nordheim, Principal, Glenlawn Collegiate
2012 - John Karras, Principal, Fort Richmond Collegiate
2011 - Walter Itson, Vice Principal, R. D. Parker Collegiate
2010 - Mark Keown, Principal, Virden Junior High School
2009 - Rick Martin, Principal, Vincent Massey Collegiate
2008 - Terry Borys, Superintendent, Louis Riel School Division
2007 - Blaine Veitch, Superintendent, Flin Flon School Division
2006 - Jim Tomes, Principal, Lincoln Middle School
2005 - Patt Roberts, Vice Principal, Charleswood Junior High School
The Marlene Stephen Memorial Leadership Award is open to grade 12 students who exhibit strong leadership skills and contribute to the overall culture of the band program in their school and community. Nominees must demonstrate strong organizational skills and a positive conviction about music and life as a whole. Candidates will distinguish themselves by the volunteer time and effort they give to music and other activities in their school and community. MBA members are invited to submit a nomination by completing the NOMINATION FORM and including a supporting statement (at least 400 words) outlining how the candidate meets the eligibility criteria. The $300 award is to be used for private music instruction, tuition for a university music education or performance degree, or a purpose as proposed by the student and approved by the awards committee. Submission deadline - 5pm, June 30, 2025.
2024 - Sam Ferguson, Fort Richmond Collegiate
2023 - Mikayla Wiebe, Morris School
2021, 2022 - Not awarded
2020 - Amaya Sydor, Vincent Massey High School (Brandon)
2019 - Emily Lange, Shaftesbury High School
2018 - Miona Milovanovic, River East Collegiate
2017 - Mikylo Odut, Hapnot Collegiate
2016 - Erin Roulston, Sturgeon Heights Collegiate
2015 - Toby Bajus, Collège Jean Sauvé
2014 - Alyssah Poiron, Collège Pierre Elliott Trudeau
2013 - Michelle Archibald, Killarney School
2012 - Erin Leathers, Glenlawn Collegiate
2011 - Tess Nesca, Fort Richmond Collegiate
2010 - Heather Jonasson, Sturgeon Heights Collegiate
​​The Ken Epp Professional Development Award - "Ken Epp was the Executive Director for the Manitoba Band Association from 1986 to 2014, and had a profound impact on band and music education in Manitoba and across Canada. This award/grant, started in 2017, is for a teacher in their first 5 years of band instruction in Manitoba. MBA members are encouraged to complete a NOMINATION FORM.
Submission deadline - 5pm, September 19, 2025.
2023 - Katherine Charles
2022 - Not awarded
2021 - Sara Sulyma
2020 - John Verrelli
2019 - Ryan Wehrle
2018 - John Hodge
2017 - Derek Klassen
Festivals Awards
Family of Festivals Awards Reception
​
The Family of Festivals Awards Reception is an annual event for band directors and volunteers who have participated in any of the previous years Concert Band, Jazz Band or Level One Festivals. Held in the spring, it's a time to gather and celebrate the music that was made and the people who made it.
​
Don Green, George Douglas, and MBA Jazz Awards
Each of these awards are presented to acknowledge exemplary performance, mature on and off-stage presence, responsiveness to the clinic, commitment to festival through longevity of participation and the development of an outstanding band program. They are presented following the Concert Band and Jazz Band Festivals each year.
Don Green Award
2025 Selkirk Junior High (Selkirk) - Garren Webicki
2024 Springfield Collegiate (Oakbank) - Greg Crowe
2023 Vincent Massey Collegiate - Matt Abraham & Shannon Little
2022 Not awarded due to Covid-19
2021 Not awarded due to Covid-19
2020 Oak Park High School - Derek Fraser
2019 Elmwood High School - Mark Sawatzky
2018 Westwood Collegiate - Greg Edwards
2017 Collège St. Norbert Collegiate (St. Norbert) - Bev Betz
2016 Lord Selkirk Regional Secondary School – Michael Brandon & Kenley Kristofferson
2015 Sisler High School - Alexis Silver
2014 Dauphin Regional Comprehensive Secondary School (Dauphin) - Taylor Schmidt
2013 Linden Christian School - Chad Pollard
2012 Collège Louis-Riel - Pauline Courcelles-Chabot
2011 Fort Richmond Collegiate - Cheryl Ferguson
2010 St. Paul's High School - Derek Tuba
2009 Grant Park High School - Joanne Karlowsky
2008 Collège Sturgeon Heights - Blaine Workman & Kathy Byrne
2007 Elmwood High School - H. Andrew Wahl
2006 Minnedosa Collegiate (Minnedosa) - Barbara Dowsett
Chairman's Award (renamed Don Green Award in 2006)
2005 Vincent Massey Collegiate - Jacquie Dawson & Bill Kristjanson
2004 École Golden Gate - Zbigniew Cichosz & Darrell Chrisp
2003 Collége Jeanne Sauve - Simone Gendron & Danielle Gaudry
2002 St. John's Ravenscourt - Teresa Lee, Robert Payne, & Nanette Lonis
2001 River East Collegiate - Jeff Kula
2000 Mennonite Brethren Collegiate - Andrew Klassen & Elizabeth Bergen
1999 Lord Selkirk Regional S.S. (Selkirk) - Jeff Johnson & Jacquie Dawson
1998 Vincent Massey Collegiate - Eilene Paterson
1997 George McDowell/Victor Wyatt Schools - Marlene Treichel
1996 John Henderson Junior High School - Jeff Kula
1995 Silver Heights Collegiate - Jim Mackay
1994 George McDowell/Victor Wyatt Schools - Marlene Treichel
1993 Springfield School (Oakbank) - Robert Payne & Susan Crosby
1992 Glenlawn Collegiate - Bill Kristjanson & Graham Bruce
1991 Ken Seaford Junior High School - Judy Page
1990 John Henderson Junior High School - Jeff Kula
1989 Minnetonka School - Bill Kristjanson
1988 Technical Vocational High School - Connie Shaw
1987 Elmwood High School - Flavio Cianflone
1986 Niverville Collegiate (Niverville) - Fraser Linklater
1985 Carberry Collegiate (Carberry) - Margery Addison
1984 Vincent Massey Collegiate - Eilene Paterson
1983 Lockport School (Lockport) - Teresa Lee
1982 Acadia Junior High School - Rod Wiedman
1981 Prince Charles School (Portage la Prairie) - Muriel Milgrom
1980 Bruce Junior High School - Dave Parsons
1979 Fort Richmond Collegiate - Orvin Anderson
1978 Windsor Park Collegiate - Mark Christianson
1977 Silver Heights Collegiate - Don Timmerman
George Douglas Award
2025 Fort Richmond Collegiate - Cheryl Ferguson & Rob Monson
2024 École Charleswood School - Jeff Boch
2023 W.C. Miller Collegiate (Altona) - Derek Klassen
2022 Not awarded due to Covid-19
2021 Not awarded due to Covid-19
2020 Maples Collegiate - Jaclyn Loganberg, Chloé Plamondon, & Brian Zimmerman
2019 John Henderson Junior High School - Laura Zinn
2018 Niverville Collegiate (Niverville) - Jennifer Horne
2017 Bruce Middle School - Tara Johnson
2016 École Viscount Alexander School – Vanessa Nowastawski
2015 Mennonite Brethren Collegiate - Andrew Klassen
2014 Westgate Mennonite Collegiate - Ross Brownlee
2013 John Pritchard School - Lynda Thompson
2012 Lincoln School - Jason Kehler & Darrell Chrisp
2011 Westdale School - Jeff Boch
2010 École Viscount Alexander - Virginia Helmer
2009 Acadia Junior High - Darryl Ferguson
2008 Boissevain and Minto Schools - Jean Lawson
2007 Westdale School - Patrick Keeler
2006 John Henderson Junior High - Doug Breckman
Commendation Award (renamed George Douglas Award in 2006)
2005 Munroe Junior High School - Brady Gill
2004 W.C. Miller Collegiate (Altona) - Dwayne Schott
2003 Ness Middle School - Marissa Hirsch & Steve Hamilton
2002 Chief Peguis School - Dennis Dekleva
2001 Gimli High School (Gimli) - Michael Cherlet
2000 Linden Christian School - Marla Bernadsky
1999 Dakota Collegiate - Marlene Treichel
1998 Dauphin Regional Secondary School (Dauphin) - Paul Graham
1997 Sisler High School - Kathy Bailley
1996 Killarney School (Killarney) - Tim Lawson
1995 Fort Richmond Collegiate - Orvin Anderson
1994 Glenlawn Collegiate - Bill Kristjanson & Graham Bruce
1993 MacGregor Collegiate (MacGregor) - Orest Pestyk
1992 Virden Collegiate (Virden) - Janet Cole
1991 Neepawa Intermediate School (Neepawa) - Stu Butterfield
1990 Garden Valley Collegiate (Winkler) - Paul Moen
1989 Samuel Burland School - Marilyn Bourbonnais
1988 Scott Bateman Junior High School (The Pas) - Colleen Richardson
1987 Lac du Bonnet School (Lac du Bonnet) - Mike Schuster
1986 John Gunn School/Transcona Collegiate - Klaus Froese
1985 Sir Alexander MacKenzie HS (Hagensborg, BC) - Laverne Macdonnell
1984 Unity Composite High School (Unity, SK) - Rod Olson
1983 Lakewood School (Kenora, ON) - Carolyn Easton & George Demeduk
1982 Mennonite Brethren Collegiate - Ken Epp
1981 Swan Valley Schools (Swan Valley) - Judy Stout & Tony Klein
1980 Port Arthur Collegiate (Thunder Bay, ON) - Phil Cotton
1979 Flin Flon Schools (Flin Flon) - Phil Winkless
1978 R.D. Parker Collegiate (Thompson) - Robert Miller
1977 Lord Selkirk Regional Secondary School (Selkirk) - Gloria Neal
MBA Jazz Award
2025 Collège Béliveau - Hubert Grenier
2024 École Secondaire Sisler High School - Alexis Silver
2023 Westgate Mennonite Collegiate - Ross Brownlee
2022 Not awarded due to Covid-19
2021 Not awarded due to Covid-19
2020 Transcona Collegiate Institute - Dan Steinhilber
2019 Grant Park High School - Joanne Karlowsky & Dorian Girardin
2018 Daniel McIntyre Collegiate - Graham Dion
2017 Fort Richmond Collegiate - Cheryl Ferguson & Chad Pollard
Crosier, Kilgour and Partners Jazz Award (renamed MBA Jazz Award in 2017)
2016 Dakota Collegiate – Darren Ritchie
2015 Stonybrook Middle School/Steinbach Regional Jazz 1 - Murray Lawrance
2014 Acadia Junior High - Darryl Ferguson
2013 River East Collegiate - Jeff Kula
2012 Not awarded
2011 Not awarded
2010 Steinbach Regional Secondary School - Mark Loewen
Investors Group Jazz Award (renamed Crosier, Kilgour and Partners Jazz Award in 2010)
2009 Westwood Collegiate - Greg Edwards
2008 Oak Park High School Mark Waldera
​
Other Awards
​
​​The Cor Godri Memorial Scholarship is an annual $250 scholarship open to any student who earns
a position in the current year’s Manitoba Senior Honour Band.
This scholarship honours the late Cor Godri, an exceptional
clarinetist whose leadership skills earned him the position of Chief
Warrant Officer during his long service as a member of the Music
Branch of the Canadian Armed Forces. Along with his military
responsibilities, Cor pursued a successful career as a freelance
musician in which his musical talent led to positions in many
excellent local musical ensembles, in a addition to opportunities to
back up numerous well-known artists including Liberace, The Bee
Gees, Rod Stewart and Mel Torme. Cor was the musical contractor
for the 1976 Olympic Games in Montreal, where he also performed
at the opening and closing ceremonies. His contributions as a
member of the Rainbow Stage Orchestra were honoured in 2019
with his addition to Rainbow Stage’s Wall of Fame.
The scholarship is sponsored by the Music Professionals of Manitoba, Local 190 of the American
Federation of Musicians of the United States and Canada, in honour of Cor’s far-reaching positive
influence and selfless work for the Local in successive roles as a Board member, Secretary-
Treasurer, and President between the years of 1969 and 2015. Cor was named Secretary-
Treasurer Emeritus in March 1998.
The successful applicant will demonstrate exemplary musicianship, possess leadership potential,
and be a team player. This person will be generously supportive of their peers, and their positive
attitude and actions will inspire those around them
Students must submit a short application with one reference to be considered by the selection
committee. The scholarship will be presented at the final public performance of the Manitoba
Senior Honour Band.
2024 - Tanisha Sempla
2023 - Susan Marks
2022 - Kieran Johnson
2021 - Shelli Traskovski
​The Ken Epp Summer Band Camp Character Award- "Ken Epp was the Executive Director for the Manitoba Band Association from 1986 to 2014, and had a profound impact on band and music education in Manitoba and across Canada. This prestigious award recognizes a summer band camper who embodies and exemplifies the character of Ken Epp. The award was established so that Manitoba band students would continue to recognize and appreciate the impact Ken had on band and music education for years to come. This award is not a performance award, but rather, it is for the camper who possesses many of the character traits of Ken Epp. The word cloud developed by Terèsa Lee in 2014 defines many of these characteristics, and serves as a guide when choosing a recipient."
St. James Camp
2024 - Jude Atnip
2023- Jack McKay
2019 - Fred Schellengberg
2018 - Braeden Blackham
2017 - Winters Biggs-Engel
2016 - Cole Ramores
Elmwood Camp
2024 - Matthew Fillion
2023 - Ranelyn Rodelas
2022 - Hanna Sidhu
2019 - Jordan Stevens
2018 - S. & T. Stevens
2017 - Brady Punton
2016 - Emily Klassen
Fort Garry Camp
2024 - Makenzie Ross-Stewart
2023 - Natasha Newbury
2022 - Rachel Bray
2019 - Tobin Montgomery
2018 - Rachelle Lambert
2017 - Sascha Modha
2016 - Matthew Brady
Oakbank Camp
2024 - Jayden DeKoning
2023 - Blake Nakonechny
2022 - Coltyn Senkow
2019 - Jura McIlraith
2018 - Jordan Dust
2017 - Chloé Franklin
2016 - Shayla Marques
Garden City Camp
​
​
2024 - Duncan McRae
2023 - Isabella Love
2022 - Samuel Bourgouin
2019 - Alexander Henwood
2018 - Anika Thapar
2017 - Justin Batin
2016 - Michael Ross
Prairie Percussion Workshop
2024 - Logan Hackbart
2023 - Zia Bowman Wilson
2022 - Nathan Tannahill
2019 - Alexandra Waxman
2018 - Awab Jelani
2017 - Sage Stoyanowski
​
Prairie Brass Camp
(new in 2023)
2024 - Henry Harrington
2023 - Aria Fast
​
Summer Jazz
Camp
​
No camps held after 2019
2019 - Janis Kim
2018 - Emma Lewis
​​
​
Associated Manitoba Arts Festivals - The MBA donates $100 to the winner of the woodwind or brass class at the AMAF Provincial Finals. The festival features winners from AMAF's regional festivals. Past MBA scholarship winners include:​​
2019 - Sam Ferguson
2018 - Stevie Onyshko
2017 - Morgan Sawchyn
2016 - Stevie Onyshko
2015 - Jennifer Arcand
2014 - Benjamin Liu
2013 - Mollin Balisi
2012 - Juno Sohn
2011 - Jaena Kim
2010 - Bryanna Down
2009 - Tara Munikar
2008 - U of M Sax Quartet
2007 - Tracy Wood
2006 - Erin Bedford
2005 - Katherine Yeo
2004 - Jessica Bernardin
2003 - Amanda Schenstead
2002 - Haley Rempel
2001 - No Recipient
2000 - No Recipient
1999 - Sara Hahn
1998 - Kristen Myers
1997 - Rebecca Simpson
1996 - Derek Zeilstra
1995 - Claire Chapman
1994 - Michael Hughes
1993 - Melody McKnight
1992 - Kim Ruhr
1991 - Roger Mantie
1990 - Kathy Byrne
1989 - Mariko Boorberg
1988 - Mark Loewen
1987 - Jennifer Duncan
1986 - David Hawkins
Any National Youth Band members from Manitoba may be eligible to apply to the MBA for financial assistance if a grant is awarded by the Manitoba Arts Council.
​The International Music Camp awards a half scholarship to a member of each of the provincial Junior, Intermediate and Senior Honour bands. The recipients are chosen by random draw.​​​
An Honourary Membership is conferred by the Board upon those who have rendered notable service to the MBA or to the advancement of band in Manitoba. Recipients have included Bob Corbett (d), George Douglas (d), and Don Green (d).
​
MBA Retirement Award - The contribution of MBA members who have recently retired are acknowledged.