On Sunday, March 17, country star and “American Idol” judge Luke Bryan praised vocal coach and performer Helen Welch on national television.
On Friday morning, Welch's singing and coaching talents demonstrated to Langley-Bath-Clearwater Middle School students why she deserved Bryan's kind words.
Welch and her band performed Thursday and Friday in Aiken as part of the Aiken Performing Arts' concert season. Friday, the musicians performed for the LBC students, taught a lesson in musical improvisation and talked about their careers and the music business at an educational outreach program sponsored by APA.
On “American Idol,” Bryan called contestant Jessica Whitely, one of Welch's former voice students, “most improved” and asked if she had been taking voice lessons.
When Whitley replied Welch had been her teacher, Bryan said, “I may have to call Helen because when she's done with me I'll be Pavarotti.”
Fellow judge Lionel Richie chimed in, too, saying, “Kudos to your coach.”
“When I woke up on Monday morning, my phone had blown up,” Welch said and laughed after the program. “My friends were calling to say all the radio stations are asking who Helen Welch is and could I call in. Luke Bryan thinks I can make him into Pavarotti. I'd like to try.”
Read the full Aiken Standard article HERE.