Until 2013, honorary membership of the Johann Strauss Society of Vienna was the highest distinction the Society could bestow. It was awarded to individuals who had made outstanding contributions to preserving and promoting the works of Johann Strauss and / or had rendered exceptional services to the Society itself. Since 2013, honorary membership has been reserved exclusively for the latter group of persons. The reason is as follows:

In 2013, “The Golden Johann Strauss” (Der Goldene Johann Strauss) was established to honour artists and cultural figures who have made outstanding contributions to the preservation and promotion of Johann Strauss’s music. This new award represents not only an additional form of recognition but also a distinction of particular prestige, as it is awarded to just one person each year. Honorary memberships, however, may be granted without restriction as to the number per year.   Accordingly, honorary memberships conferred from 2013 onwards highlight outstanding contributions to the development and continuity of the Johann Strauss Society of Vienna.

 

Honorary members appointed before 2013:
(Selection in alphabetical order)

Aigner-Strauss, Hedwig (Head of the Strauss family descendants, great-granddaughter of Josef Strauss)
Bauer-Theussl, Franz (General Music Director of the Vienna Volksoper)
Ghazarian, Sona (Singer at the Vienna State Opera)
Großmann, Leopold (Conductor, composer)
Heymann, Klaus (Record producer, publisher of the complete CD recordings of the works of Johann Strauss II, Josef Strauss, and Johann Strauss I)
Küchl, Rainer (First Concertmaster of the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra)
Lill, Werner (Chairman of the Vienna Johann Strauss Orchestra)
Lipp, Wilma (Singer at the Vienna State Opera)
Mailer, Franz (Strauss scholar, President of the Johann Strauss Society of Vienna from 1992 to 2005)
Mehta, Zubin (Conductor)
Muti, Riccardo (Conductor)
Prikopa, Herbert (Conductor, singer, actor, composer)
Resel, Werner (Chairman of the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra)
Schaumayer, Maria (President of the Austrian National Bank)
Stolz, Robert (Conductor, composer)

 

Honorary members appointed since 2013
(in chronological order)

2016
Probst, Dr. Stephan (Attorney-at-law, providing legal counsel to the Johann Strauss society of Vienna)
Svoboda, Mag. Sascha (Attorney-at-law, providing legal counsel to the Johann Strauss Society of Vienna)

2025
Geiger, Georg (Member of the Board of the Johann Strauss Society of Vienna, responsible for finances for 33 years)

2026
Nentwich, Ksch. Marianne (Doyenne of the Theater in der Josefstadt, in recognition of her two-decade-long highly successful and valuable artistic contribution to productions of the Johann Strauss Society of Vienna)
Heher, Oberst Prof. Mag. Bernhard (Austrian Director of Army Music and Director of the Guards Band, in recognition of his highly authentic interpretation of classical Viennese music at events organized by the Johann Strauss Society of Vienna)

 

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