Tommy Emmanuel, the virtuosic Australian guitarist, has received an honorary doctorate from the University of Newcastle for his contributions to music.
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Emmanuel, who took up the guitar as a child with his brother, Phil, in a supporting act for their musician mother, developed his craft by following the music of Chet Atkins - sometimes called "Mister Guitar" - who was one of the pioneering artists to develop the Nashville sound; a country style that broadened the genre's appeal to mainstream pop music fans.
He is famous for his instrumental fingerstyle that dips a toe in blue, jazz, rock, country and a slew of other genres.
On Saturday, at a ceremony held to coincide with the musician's tour, which included a date at the Civic Theatre on Saturday night, Emmanuel performed and spoke to students and faculty about his life's experience in the music industry.
"I'm feeling pretty wonderful," Emmanuel told the Newcastle Herald after the ceremony.
"It was a beautiful experience and a lot of fun.
"It was interesting to reflect where you come from and where you are going, where you have been."
"To get an honorary doctorate like this is a very proud moment. I'm not schooled as far as going to a conservatorium or anything like that. My school has been travelling and playing music. I must be doing something right because it keeps getting better."
The musician, notable for his instrumental arrangements and collaborations with giants of the global music industry, including his one-time inspiration Chet Atkins, urged students of music to find their own sound even if it meant following those whom they aspired to be.
"Chet Atkins was my first big influence," he said. "And then I listened to everyone - I had to listen to other players. I listened to all kinds of music and tried to take it all in."
"I feel like I'm always growing and changing - I never want to get stale - I don't want to be playing the same thing all the time.
"I always tell young people to get some good songs. It's really about the quality and integrity of what you are doing. Look for the good songs and try to learn them - you have to have the experience of playing."
The Grammy and ARIA award winner played a two-set evening at the Civic Theatre from 7.30pm.
"It just keeps getting better," he said. "My biggest problem at my age is that things keep getting better. People keep asking when I'm going to retire. I ask, from what?"
