With this trophy, MechaMusica wants to honour persons or organisations because of their merits in the field of automatic musical instruments.

2008: Norbert Vroman - Lendelede - West-Flanders

2009 - Dick van Minnen - Utrecht - The Netherlands

Dick van Minnen, on the right side of the photo, receives the MechaMusica award from Johnny Claes (photo: Ronald Pannenborg).

During 39 years, Dick van Minnen was connected with the restauration workshop of the Museum van Speelklok tot Pierement.

2015 - Johnny Claes - Tisselt - Antwerpen

At the AGM of our society in 2015, the MechaMusica-award was given to Johnny Claes. He was the first president of our society, and since our start in 2007, he has made enormous efforts to put our society on the map – a task he performed like no one else could have done. Our award has been redesigned: the bronze figure was designed by artist Hilde Peeters. On the photo below (taken by Bennie Tanghe), Johnny receives the award from our current president, Gilbert Duerinck:

2016 - Alois Broeke - Breda - The Netherlands & Robert Florizoone - De Panne - West-Vlaanderen

In 2016 we decided to honour two people with an award: one was given to Alois Broeke, who has put endless energy in documenting and preserving Belgian dance organs and their culture; another one was given to Robert Florizoone, who devoted many hours (and kilometres) to our society as event manager.

2017 - Bennie Tanghe - Terneuzen - The Netherlands

At our 2017 AGM Bennie Tanghe was honoured with our MEMU-award for his lifelong efforts to support our society.

In September 2007, MechaMusica was born: a Flemish society aiming to preserve (the culture of) mechanical music instruments. It is the first Belgian society concentrating on mechanical musical instruments.

Our goals are:

• The preservation of the extant patrimony of automatically playing musical instruments, as well as the management, opening up, archiving, inventorying, publishing, exhibiting, informing, documenting, advising in any field related to these automatic musical instruments. Special attention goes towards patrimony that is of historical relevance to Belgium.
• Stimulating the interest in automatic musical instruments, with special attention to patrimony of historical relevance to Belgium
• To reach the goals mentioned above: using and/or acquiring and managing a building.

Every member receives our encyclopedia once a year; this contains a selection of articles concerning mechanical music. As such, the members will be able to compile a valuable collection of information.

Furthermore, our society organises all sorts of activities and gatherings during the year. In a relaxed atmosphere, you can meet other mechanical music enthusiasts and enjoy the music of instruments present at the meeting location.

Our motto is "Together for more!". If you want to become a member, visit our membership page for more info!

MechaMusica vzw
Den Abt 21
B-2340 Beerse

Don't forget to remove ".geentroep" when using one of the e-mail addresses below (we've added it to prevent spam).

President: Gilbert Duerinck

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Secretary: Gerrit Verhagen

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Treasurer: Marijke Groosman

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Event manager: Johan Van Oprooy

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Editor: Rudy Nijs

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Shop manager: Gilbert Duerinck

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Webmaster: Björn Isebaert

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Archivaris: Jan Boyen

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