MEET THE TEAM!
LV’S CREATOR,
LAURA BENNETT
Founder of Local Vocals, Laura’s whole life has centred around music. She completed Grade 8 piano & voice as a teenager, before moving on to study music at degree level, majoring in vocal performance at the prestigious Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts & receiving the Beatles Story Prize from Sir Paul McCartney.
Laura is a piano & vocal tutor, performer and musical director but her real passion lies in sharing music in the form of community singing. Over the past ten years, Laura has worked with various choirs & singing ensembles, including Rock Choir.
In 2021, she decided to create her own, truly authentic local singing community, with a real emphasis on supporting local charities in need across Lancashire & the surrounding areas and now leads three thriving community choirs in Preston, Chorley & Wigan, as well as supporting Local Vocals’ choirs in Lancaster, Blackpool, Blackburn & Burnley.
So far, Local Vocals has grown into a wonderful community of hundreds of local people, raising tens of thousands of pounds for local causes in need.
LV’S PRODUCER,
MIKE HOLCROFT
Mike is a multi-instrumentalist, music producer and Laura's right hand man for all things Local Vocals. He produces & performs on the Local Vocals' backing tracks in collaboration with Laura’s vocal arrangements, creating bespoke pieces unique to our choir. He can also be seen on various instruments at many of our live performances (often hiding behind an array of cymbals!) and leads our care home singalong sessions; offering local care homes the opportunity to sing together as a community.
Mike has been obsessed with music for his entire life and has played everything from Rock, Jazz-Fusion, Folk, Big Band and everything in between. He currently works as a producer from his own studio, Upholland Recording Studio, and performs in Liverpool cult favourites Professor Yaffle.
LV’S OFFICE MANAGER,
MARIE BENNETT
After 31 years of teaching, Marie has retired this year from her role as Assistant Headteacher & is now in charge of all things ‘admin’ at Local Vocals; managing the workload involved in the growing company. Apart from being Laura’s mother(!), Marie is the perfect person for the role and will be on hand to help choir members via office@localvocalschoir.com, as well as heading up some of the day-to-day admin involved, liaising with our support team and being an integral part of our event planning and community outreach.
CHOIR LEADER,
MADDIE WARREN
Newest member of the team, Maddie is a multi-instrumentalist, conductor, composer and recent music graduate from the University of Bristol.
Whilst at university, she became the Treasurer of MTB (Musical Theatre Bristol), a society that predominantly puts on musical productions. It was here that Maddie found her passion for Musical Direction and spent three years conducting, vocal coaching and arranging for MTB’s productions.
Maddie is a brilliant addition to the Local Vocals team! Helping to expand this authentic singing community and supporting local charities in need is Maddie’s idea of putting her experience and passion for music to good use. You will find Maddie brilliantly leading our choirs in Lancaster, Blackpool, Blackburn & Burnley.