LYNDIA “mzlyndiA” JOHNSOn
Founder and Music Industry Vocal Artist Development
Lyndia Johnson, known in the Music Industry and singers as “MzLyndia” is not your average vocal coach. From touring with artists to collaborating with producers, MzLyndia has spotlighted the need for vocal artist development in the music industry for 25 years. Her celebrated abilities as a vocal coach and in artist development are highly respected; she has served on the Board of Governors for the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences is a vocal consultant and clinician for MusiCares and was one of the original architects of Grammy Camp. Her relationship with the Recording Academy has been a long-recognized and well-respected collaboration.
MzLyndia holds both Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees in Voice and is certified in Vocal Anatomy and Physiology, Vocal Acoustics, and Comparative Vocal Pedagogy. Her expertise in developing the Contemporary Pop/R&B Vocal Style is a unique combination of years of operatic study (MzLyndia was a well-established opera singer and a student of the legendary Margaret Harshaw before becoming a vocal coach) but it was Gospel and R&B Music that supported and re-enforced the development of her operatic voice; influenced by the voices of Aretha Franklin, Ella Fitzgerald, and Mahalia Jackson, she brings to her expertise the best of both worlds; an avid vocal scientist which informs her contemporary musical instructional style and is highly sought after among Pop, R&B, Gospel, Musical Theater and artists that desire to brand and transform their voice in addition to Opera Singers who are “crossing-over” from Opera to Popular singing styles. Over a 25-year Vocal Coaching Career, MzLyndia’s artists have earned Grammy, Tony, BET, and American Music Awards. MzLyndia’s artists can be heard around the world in Pop, KPop, R&B, Gospel and Musical Theater.
MzLyndia has lectured on the voice for the Pacific Voice/Speech Foundation at UCLA, the University of Illinois Chicago Hospital of Voice/Speech Therapy, the National Association of Teachers of Singing, and the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences and has facilitated countless Pop Voice and Artist Development clinics around the world. MzLyndia is a contributing editor for the upcoming Oxford Dictionary of Contemporary Music; and in 2018, MzLyndia was invited to serve as Associate Professor of Practice in Pop Voice and is currently interim-Co Chair of the Popular Music Program at the University of Southern California. MzLyndia is the first African American Professor of Voice engaged by the Thornton School of Music.
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 (SVC), founded in 1995 by Lyndia Johnson, “MzLyndia”, is the first stop for singers who have never studied or trained their voice. SVC educates singers who have been singing for years “unaware” of how to sing. MzLyndia calls this, singing with talent and No Skill! Which is a recipe for disaster for any new singer.
Sterling Voice Coaching is an exciting and innovative approach to voice coaching for ages 14 and up with specific attention given to adolescent boy singers experiencing the dreaded “vocal transitional” phase of life. SVC provides complete vocal coaching and training at this very important time for all new singers and singers who have been poorly or never developed. SVC works on all singing styles specializing in methods that produce healthy, beautiful, easy singing.
Sterling Voice Coaching’s clientele consists of singers of all genres and styles in addition, SVC works side by side with producers who desire assistance with singers during recording sessions. “An important aspect of effective vocal coaching is “the style of singing does not have to change to get great recording results.”
Sterling Voice Coaching provides vocal coaching that prevents vocal loss, promotes longevity that is easy to maintain. A great start for any new singer on the journey to discovering their singing and all its possibilities!