Bryn Terfel awarded Bangor University honorary doctorate

Bryn Terfel has been awarded an honorary doctorate by Bangor University for his outstanding contribution to music.

The welsh opera star, who hails from Pant Glas, Gwynedd, will pick up the honorary degree not just for his astonishing opera career, which has seen Terfel perform in the greatest opera houses all over the world ever since his operatic debut in 1990, but also for his contribution to Welsh culture.

For nine years Terfel has hosted The Bryn Terfel Faenol Festival (popularly known as ‘Brynfest’), attracting a host of international artists to North Wales.

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.

Terfel joins the likes of Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Sir David Attenborough, Rhodri Morgan and Sir John Meurig Thomas who all received honorary degrees to mark Bangor University's 125th anniversary in 2009.

Terfel added: "It's a privilege to join such a prestigious list of internationally recognised individuals who have received honorary doctorates from the university in the past - all of whom have contributed a great deal to their respective fields".

University secretary and registrar Dr David Roberts said Terfel was "arguably the greatest operatic singer Wales has ever produced" and that his roots were firmly in north west Wales.

"Bangor University is proud to honour an individual who has made such a remarkable contribution in the field of music," he said, "and in so doing he has become an outstanding ambassador for the region and for Wales."