Guitar star: Tran Tuan An poses with North Park University's dean after receiving the prestigious title. — VNS Photo Josee Weigand

ILLINOIS (VNS) — Vietnamese guitarist Tran Tuan An has been bestowed the most outstanding student at the 39th annual ceremony to honour Student Laureates of the Lincoln Academy of Illinois.

At the ceremony on Saturday, the last-year student at the North Park University's School of Music was presented with a medal, certificate and a US$1,000 monetary grant.

The criteria for selecting the recipient of the Student Laureate Award is based on academic success and extracurricular achievements.

In an email to An prior to the annual award ceremony, the Lincoln Academy of Illinois Executive Director, Julie Keelless, wrote: "It is my honour to congratulate you on behalf of all the members of The Lincoln Academy of Illinois. This honour is bestowed on only one student from your college each year and there is no doubt you represent your institution's finest quality of student and future leader."

On November 10, the Evanston Music Club 2013 Scholarship winner will play at Music at Mallinckrodt, a concert of classical guitar music hosted by the Services for Adults Staying in Their Homes, Illinois.

An will play a variety of contemporary and international classical compositions, including works by Mauro Giuliani, Joaquin Rodrigo, Nakita Koshkin, Johann Kaspa Mertz and Roland Dyens, and an arrangement of Vietnamese traditional folk music by Dang Ngoc Long.

A graduate of the Viet Nam National Conservatory of Music and named as Viet Nam's 2010 Best Overseas Student, An first earned recognition for his exceptional musicianship at the age of 12, when he won first prize in the Viet Nam National Guitar Competition.

An has since earned numerous awards and competitions, including first prize in the 2013 Society of American Musicians Guitar Competition. In December, An will begin a two-month tour of Viet Nam sponsored by the Viet Nam Red Cross. — VNS