"I'm absolutely astounded," she said.
The 91-year-old has been honoured by her peers and made a life member of New Zealand Association of Teachers of Singing.
But, she typically wanted to share the spotlight yesterday.
"We're very lucky with the teachers we'd got in Dunedin. Dunedin has become the place to come for singing."
Miss McKellar trained generations of singers, including professional opera singer Jonathan Lemalu when he won the 1996 Otago Daily Times Aria and 1998 Mobil Song Quest.
She still serves on the committee of the Dunedin Performing Arts Competitions Society, which holds its annual senior vocal festival, culminating in the ODT Aria next week.
"I'm really looking forward to the festival and ODT Aria. I've got a tradition of introducing the arias to the audience when the singers come on.
"The standard is going to be so good this year.
"It's an amazing collection of people. It's so interesting watching them grow."
Three years ago, she introduced the Honor McKellar Award of $1000 for third place in the ODT Aria.
"A lump sum of money came my way," she explained.
Miss McKellar was appointed the first executant lecturer in voice at the University of Otago in 1970, which she continued until her retirement in 1985.
In 1989, she was awarded the Queen's Service Medal for community service.
She continued to teach privately until three years ago.
She recently moved from her Highgate home to the Yvette Williams Retirement Village just along the road.
Miss McKellar was nominated for life membership by singing teachers council member and Dunedin singing teacher Pat Scally-Richardson.
"Honor is known to us all as one of New Zealand's most highly regarded teachers of singing.
"As a teacher, she has set many on the path to national and international success. Honor has been a mentor and friend to teachers throughout the country," she said.
"She is the 'grande dame' of singing in the south and is much-loved."
