When Nyi Nyi Myin first auditioned for Charlotte Choir School in 2010, he didn’t know a single thing about singing.

“I had no prior experience,” he remembers. “It was scary.”

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What he didn’t realize then was that this small, brave step would open the door to five years of growth, music, and memories that would shape the course of his life.

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Drawn in by a friend who was already part of the program, Nyi Nyi joined the MasterSingers—the School’s premier mixed-voice ensemble for talented teens across the region. To earn a place among the MasterSingers is to demonstrate exceptional musicianship, advanced music theory skills, and the ability to sight-sing at a high level. Members also serve as mentors and role models for younger choristers—a role Nyi Nyi took seriously, learning just how much leadership and teamwork matter in the making of music.

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During his time in the ensemble, Nyi Nyi experienced one of the program’s most beloved traditions: the MasterSingers’ international tour to England. Every four years, the group travels overseas to perform and to experience firsthand the roots of the Anglican choral tradition. For Nyi Nyi, that trip stands out as one of his most vivid memories. “Touring England was incredible,” he says. “Singing Evensong at the National Cathedral was a moment I’ll never forget—the sound, the history, the sense of being part of something much bigger than myself.”

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What he loved most about Charlotte Choir School was the community it created—a place where hard work, listening, and collaboration turned into something extraordinary. “CCS gave me structure and discipline, which I honestly needed,” he says. “Being on time, learning my music, taking responsibility—it all stuck with me. And I had so much fun making music with people who became close friends.”

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Those lessons carried him forward. After graduation, Nyi Nyi pursued a degree in music education, building on the strong foundation of theory and solfege he’d developed at CCS. Today, he teaches choir at Stanley Middle School, where he helps his own students discover the joy of making music together.

“The skills I learned at CCS are the ones I use every day,” he reflects. “They helped me get through college and now help me guide my students.”

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Being a Charlotte Choir School alum, Nyi Nyi says, carries a deep sense of pride and gratitude. “The program shaped me not only as a musician but as a person, teaching me discipline, teamwork, and the joy of making music with others. It represents a community that continues to inspire me.”

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Looking ahead, Nyi Nyi hopes today’s choristers cherish their time in the program. “I hope they take away a love for making music, a sense of teamwork, and the confidence that comes from working hard and performing together,” he says. “Enjoy the process. Make lasting friendships. And know that what you learn here goes far beyond music.”

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From his first nervous audition to leading choirs of his own, Nyi Nyi’s journey captures the full-circle magic of Charlotte Choir School—how a single voice, nurtured and challenged, can grow into a lifelong harmony.