Cho Min Kyu, born on November 19, 1990, in Taebaek, South Korea, is a renowned opera singer and the leader and leggero tenor of the crossover vocal group Forestella. His musical journey began at an early age, influenced by his mother, a former kindergarten teacher who aspired to be a singer. Cho's passion for music was further nurtured after his family moved to Chuncheon in 1998. He pursued his education at Seoul Arts High School and later at Seoul National University, where he studied vocal music. Despite facing initial setbacks and criticisms in singing competitions, Cho found new direction while attending graduate school at the same university under opera singer Kwangchul Youn. Cho Min Kyu gained significant recognition after participating in Phantom Singer 2, a reality TV talent show in 2017, which led to his emergence as a strategic and discerning vocalist, earning him the nickname "Strategist." His career took a unique turn when he ventured into crossover music, releasing his first solo single "Sinsegye: New Age" in 2020 and a mini-album New Age: PARANA in 2021, alongside holding a two-day concert in Seoul.
