Debra Byrd

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Since its inception, Byrd has been the vocal coach and arranger for American Idol, as well as the show’s North American music tours. She is also the vocal coach and arranger for Canadian Idol, Seasons 2-7.  Byrd brings her knowledge of musical expression and performance to groups of eager singers. With a natural gift for vocal artistry, Byrd not only helps the “future Idols” perform and arrange their music selections, but she is also a mentor and in many ways the heart of American Idol.  “To be an Idol, you have to have more than a good voice. You need to have a presence, a connection with the songs, and understand what you’re presenting.” Byrd believes that one of the keys to vocal success is keeping the essence of what the songs represent by capturing what makes them special.

Ray Chew (American Idol Musical Director)

Sought after from coast to coast, Byrd is the vocal supervisor for the national tour of Ain’t Misbehavin’ (starring Ruben Studdard), as well as the special 30th-anniversary production at the Ahmanson Theatre in Los Angeles. She served as the vocal coach for the 2006 tour of High School Musical – The Concert and the Justin Timberlake, My Grammy Moment Contest. Byrd has been the vocal coach for various Holland America’s Cruise Line shows and ABC-TV’s All My Children.

 

 


Byrd’s opening act for Barry Manilow’s International Tour – Photo: Debbie Kruse

 

Star School!

American Idol vocal coach Debra Byrd has released an hour-long information-filled DVD called ‘Welcome To Star School!’. In this DVD, you will learn the same things taught to contestants on American and Canadian Idol, as well as popular recording artists all over the world. 

https://modernvocaltraining.webs.com/welcometostarschool.htm

 

 

 

In 2001, Byrd was nominated for a Black Theatre Alliance Award for ‘Best Actress in a Musical’ for Could It Be Magic?  Byrd has developed an online vocal course, designed to give aspiring singers/performers from around the world the opportunity to study with her. Additionally, she is creating a line of herbal products to protect, soothe and enhance your voice. Her other product, Pocket Tones by Byrd, is an electronic pitch pipe that is easy to use and a valuable tool for anyone who sings.

Glory

Moments before winning the Oscar for best original song, Common and John Legend took the stage for a rousing performance of “Glory,” replete with backing choir and powerful imagery that recreated the march on Selma. Their performance got a standing ovation, but, even more conspicuously, it summoned some serious waterworks from the crowd.

“Glory” from “Selma” won Best Original Song at the 2015 Oscars

 

Mighty River

Oscar Awards. – Mary J Blige – Mighty River

 

 

BYRD *

Much Love and Respect, Debra – Dale  💖 (2021)

 

Dale Ricardo Shields, LaTanya Richardson, and Debra Byrd

Dale Shields and Debra

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DALE RICARDO SHIELDS©2021

Iforcolor.org 2021 – All rights reserved ©2021

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ARCHIVIST, EDUCATOR, HISTORIAN, and ARTiST
Dale Ricardo Shields is a 2017 winner of The Kennedy Center/Stephen Sondheim Inspirational Teacher Award®, 2017 and 2015 Tony® award nominee for the Excellence in Theatre Education Award, the 2017 AUDELCO/"VIV" Special Achievement Award, 2020, 2021, and 2022 ENCORE AWARD / The Actors Fund and winner of the 2022. Recently, he won the 2022 Legend Award from his alma mater Ohio University. He is the 2021 winner of the Paul Robeson Award, presented (jointly) by the Actors Equity Association and the Actors Equity Foundation.

Research Accomplishments:
His extensive professional credits as a Director, Stage manager, and Actor (Broadway, Off-Broadway, Off-Off-Broadway, and Regional) As an actor he has appeared on Saturday Night Live, Another World, Guiding Light, The Cosby Show, and the ITV television series "Special Needs" and commercials and film.

Professor Shields is a member of the Actors Equity Association, Screen Actors Guild, the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists, and the American Guild of Musical Artists performance unions and an associate member of the Society of Stage Directors and Choreographers.

He began his artistic academic career in New York City at Playwrights Horizon, The South Bronx Action Theatre, and Mind Builders, and then was invited to join the teaching staff at the Joseph Papp Public Theatre (New York Shakespeare Festival). He represented the United States for Theatre Young Audiences at the ASSITEJ Theatre Festival in London, England.

He has taught and been a visiting artist at Ohio University, The College of Wooster, Denison University, Macalester College, Susquehanna University, and SUNY Potsdam.

He holds B.F.A and M.F.A, Degrees from Ohio University.

Website(s)

Iforcolor.org [Research]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dale_Ricardo_Shields [Career]