Nat Charles

Debra Byrd : 'Idol'-izing good technique, stage presence

Another season of American Idol is well underway, and while classical singing is rarely ever the fare, many classical singers admit to watching the show. Few are aware, however, that the show’s vocal coach/arranger has roots in classical singing. In this Classical Singer exclusive, Debra Byrd shares her experiences working on television’s top reality show, and shares some advice for classical singers crossing over into popular music.