RATHDRUM - Casey Noye will let his voice be heard on a big stage in Nashville.

Noye, a junior at Lakeland High, has been selected to perform at the National Association for Music Education gala concert on Oct. 30 at the Gaylord Opryland Hotel.

"I'm extremely honored to be accepted into this choir," said Noye, who has also been chosen for all-state and all-region choirs in the past.

"This is definitely my biggest honor, and the trip is going to be the most fun."

Noye was among 16 tenor II performers selected for the all-national mixed choir. He was the only local student chosen.

Noye's father Kent said he didn't fully realize the voice his son had until he heard him sing the "Star-Spangled Banner" at a basketball game a year ago.

"It brought tears to my eyes," Kent said.

At Nashville, Noye will perform under the baton of big-name conductors Peter Boonshaft, Miriam Burns, Rollo Dilworth and Rodney Whitaker in front of thousands of people.

Students chosen to perform qualified for their state-level honor ensemble program and submitted a video recording to the national association.

"Casey is an all-around friendly, happy and encouraging kid that everyone seems to love," said Mark Sescilla, Lakeland's choir teacher. "I think it is totally cool that he is the first-ever Lakeland student to receive (the national invitation)."

Kent said singing has helped Casey "blossom."

"He could be a timid young man, but singing has helped him break out of a shell," Kent said.

Noye plans to major in music education and apply to the University of Indiana.

His music talent hasn't come without practice and influence. He takes private singing lessons from Renei Yarrow in Coeur d'Alene and has taken piano lessons since he was 6. He is a member of his school's a cappella choir and Christian Youth Theater.

Kent and Cynthia, Casey's mom, both have musical backgrounds personally and in their families.

"I'd say he was born into it," Cynthia said.