His continued devotion to music education in Dunedin has earned him the annual Vernon Griffiths Prize in Musical Leadership from the University of Canterbury School of Music - his alma mater.
The prestigious award is given to a present or past student of the university's school of music who has demonstrated outstanding qualities of musical leadership.
Mr Brusse (65) recently retired as head of the music department at Bayfield High School but continues as musical director of Dunedin's Saturday morning music classes - an organisation he helped to establish in 1968.
His long list of musical contributions includes 39 years as an organiser of the Otago Secondary Schools Music Festival, 20 years as musical director of the Dunedin Youth Orchestra and the education of thousands of music pupils during his 37-year teaching career.
Mr Brusse was emotional about the award.
"It's an absolute buzz. It's taken me 40 years' work to get an award from the university, and to be recognised for my work at this time is humbling. It means a lot."
