Not because of his age - just 25 - but because Sako Dermenjian can bring with him knowledge of from the Middle East and Spain as well as classical European, plus modern and contemporary, styles.

Of Armenian heritage but growing up in Syria, he has also taught in Lebanon and has made his home in Australia after his family moved here away from Syria's civil war in 2014.

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Given his first guitar by his grandmother at age seven, then studying in Damascus for nine years, Dermenjian says he's "never put it down since".

"I like to fuse Spanish beats with a little bit of Middle Eastern using classic techniques, also using my Armenian origin - I create my own unique style," he said.

After winning the open guitar section at the 2018 Sydney Eisteddfod, Dermenjian described how music can help in the best and toughest of times.

"Music has been there for me in both times of immense joy and difficulty at different points in my life," he said at the time.

His family left Syria in 2014 after civil war broke out, but it's not something he wants to talk about much now, preferring to concentrate on his home in Wollongong and the positive things that music can bring. Suffice to say he believes the past has taught him to make the most of the time we have.

Since a TED talk in Wollongong in 2016 to the Eisteddfod he has been quoted saying "six strings can really change the world".

"When I came to Australia I didn't know anyone," he said. "I didn't have friends, I just had my parents and my sister. But I brought my guitar with me. Most of the things I was doing involved guitar. When I met my best friends, it was through guitar playing too. Everything changes, new friends, new life, new home. They say music is the language of the world. My best friends, the first words between us were actually playing guitar."

He was playing "three to four" gigs a week before the lockdowns started, but has had to focus on teaching more given events the past year.

He's now sponsored by Yamaha and studying a masters in music at Sydney's conservatorium, but Wollongong students will get the benefit of his experience, having been teaching for about 10 years.

The conservatorium's head of guitar Luke Tierney was excited to welcome Dermenjian to the six-string teaching team.

"He not only brings his skills as a classical guitarist to the teaching staff but a broader perspective including improvisation and a passion for other genres, informed by his rich heritage," Tierney said.

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