Bangor University has awarded international opera star Bryn Terfel an honorary doctorate for his contribution to music.

Terfel, from Pant Glas, Gwynedd, hosted his own festival at Faenol, just outside the city, for nine years.

University secretary and registrar Dr David Roberts described the bass-baritone as “an outstanding ambassador for the region and for Wales”.

With the institution only having issued honorary degrees once before, Terfel said his award was “very humbling”.

He said he was honoured to be receiving an honorary doctorate in music from the university.

“I’ve enjoyed a varied and eventful career in music and to be recognised for that is very humbling,” he said.

The first honorary degrees were awarded to Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Sir David Attenborough, Rhodri Morgan and Sir John Meurig Thomas to mark the university’s 125th anniversary in 2009.

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