LYNDIA “mzlyndiA” JOHNSOn
Founder and Music Industry Vocal Artist Development
Lyndia Johnson, known in the music industry as “MzLyndia,” is the founder of Sterling Voice Coaching and a hands‑on vocal coach, vocal producer, and mentor who turns raw talent into sustainable careers. After years of touring with artists and collaborating in the studio, she built a practical, artist‑first method that blends conservatory‑grade vocal technique, Gospel and R&B roots, and studio‑smart production so singers can sound authentic, powerful, and ready for the industry.
Her approach is rare: classically trained with deep Gospel lineage, she is one of the few vocal coaches to evolve authentically from opera into Pop, R&B, Gospel, Rock, and Musical Theatre. That mix of elite technical command, soulful stylistic insight, and in‑session vocal production experience shapes voices that are both iconic and resilient.
As an international coach, vocal producer, and clinician, MzLyndia has led residencies and masterclasses around the world and is a contributing editor to the Oxford Dictionary of Contemporary Music. She has a long‑standing relationship with the Recording Academy, served on the Board of Governors, and in 2006 was one of the original architects on the design and development of Grammy Camp.
MzLyndia holds both Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees in Voice; certifications in Vocal Anatomy and Physiology, Vocal Acoustics, and Comparative Vocal Pedagogy. The artists she has developed have earned Grammy, Tony, BET, and American Music Awards and can be heard worldwide across Pop, K‑pop, R&B, Gospel, and Musical Theatre stages.
In 2018 she joined USC Thornton School of Music as Associate Professor of Popular Voice and currently serves as Chair of the Popular Music Program, connecting academic rigor with real‑world artist development.
Holly Palmer
is a professional singer, songwriter, and actor who has recorded and
toured with David Bowie, Sting, Seal, and Michael Bublé – and released five critically acclaimed solo albums. After receiving her Bachelor’s Degree from Berklee College of Music, Holly moved to Manhattan where she signed with Warner Bros., and recorded her eponymous debut album. The London Sunday Times said, “She gets the Female Newcomer of the Year and Best Thing Since k.d. lang Award.”
Next, Holly connected with producer Howie B (U2 and Björk) in London, where they made her second album, Tender Hooks, which was awarded “4 stars” by Britain’s TheMail on Sunday. Soon after, David Bowie invited Holly to sing on his album, Hours. She is featured on the opening track, Thursday's Child, proclaimed by Q Magazine as “...one of the top moments of that year.” She spent the next year touring the world with Bowie as a singer and percussionist, appearing on VH-1 Storytellers, and recording two more Bowie records: Live at the Beeb and Toy. She also appears on Bowie’s posthumously released Live at Glastonbury 2000.
Holly’s voice and songs also appear in various films, TV projects, and commercials. Most recent work includes Liza Minelli’s classic, But the World Goes Round in Pamela Adlon’s new hit film Babes, as well as contributing vocals to The Exorcist (2023), The 95th Academy Awards, Netflix’s Midnight Mass, HBO’s Perry Mason, CONAN and Ideal Home starring Paul Rudd. Holly recently received her Master’s Degree in Vocal Arts and Opera from California State University, Northridge.
Holly teaches voice and songwriting and is the newest Vocal Artist Coach to join the Sterling Voice Coaching team.
COVID Considerations for Singers
Vocalists Considerations. “Singing is thought to be higher risk activities for COVID-19 spread due to the aggressive expelling of respiratory droplets. This can result in aerosols that can hang in the air for hours. Much attention has been given to the risks of singing because of ‘super-spreading’ events documented during this pandemic. It is important to take extra precautions when participating in musical activities, especially if they involve vocalists and wind instrument musicians.”
Vocalists should use masks for all rehearsals and increase distances between individuals to 12 feet during performances where masks are not to be in use by the singers in the group.
Distancing Recommendations. A minimum distance of 12 feet is recommended between singers. Like an athlete, simply the physical activity of playing one’s instrument generates more forced breathing and generally leads to more droplets escaping from the sides of masks. As a result, it is best to increase from the standard 6 feet distancing as an added precaution.
STERLING VOICE COACHING
Sterling Voice Coaching (est. 1995) was founded by Lyndia Johnson, “MzLyndia,” to teach singers how to sing — not just rely on talent — with a practical, style‑proof method that builds healthy, beautiful, and market‑ready voices.
Who Sterling Voice Coaching for:
Emergency vocal coach on call for touring and headline artists:
On-call vocal care for established artists when their voice needs urgent support
Touring-ready vocal coach available for immediate voice crisis management
Expert vocal manager for artists who need reliable, on-demand care
Standby vocal coach to keep headline voices healthy and performance-ready
Emerging singers who’ve never trained formally
Artists stuck singing by instinct, not technique
Producers and A&R seeking reliable vocal partners for sessions
Teen singers (14+) and adolescent boys navigating vocal transition
What we do (core services)
Private coaching - training prescriptive and customized to each singer’s unique sound
Vocal production: in‑studio coaching for efficient, emotional takes
Audition & repertoire coaching: craft songs that get callbacks
Transitional voice care: targeted programs for changing young voices
Performance prep & touring technique: stamina without strain