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MEET THE TEAM

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Laura Bennett-Gornall
Founder & Choir Leader for
Preston, Chorley 
& Wigan
Marie Bennett
Admin Manager
John Wright
Choir Leader for
Morecambe, Lancaster,
Fleetwood, St Annes
& Poulton-le-Fylde
Mike Holcroft 
Producer
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Rose Allen
Choir Leader for
Altrincham, Prescot,
Warrington, Withington, Warrington & Leigh
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Jonny Rees
Choir Leader for
Bolton & Salford
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Phil Reynolds
Choir Leader for
Oldham, Bury & Littleborough
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George Harry Jones
Choir Leader for
Clitheroe, Blackburn
& Burnley
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Jen Addison-Jones
Tia Williams
Sally Abraham
Choir Leader for
Burscough, Hesketh Bank
and Leyland
Choir Leader for
Halifax, Huddersfield,
Leeds & Wakefield
Choir Leader for
Sandbach, Macclesfield,
Wilmslow and Knutsford

Laura Bennett-Gornall

Founder of Local Vocals, Laura’s whole life has centred around music. She studied at the prestigious Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts, receiving the Beatles Story Prize from Sir Paul McCartney, and has worked with various choirs & singing ensembles for 14 years.

In 2021, she decided to create her own, truly authentic local singing community, with a real emphasis on supporting local charities in need across the North, championing our local communities.

Laura now leads three thriving Local Vocals choirs in Preston, Chorley & Wigan, as well as supporting the rest of the Local Vocals’ team across the North of the UK.

Local Vocals has grown into a wonderful community of hundreds of local voices, raising tens of thousands of pounds for local causes in need and she truly feels as though she is
living the dream. 

Founder and Choir Leader

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Marie Bennett

After 31 years of teaching, Marie retired 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 is on hand to help choir leaders & choir members via office@localvocalschoir.com, as well as heading up some of the day-to-day admin involved, liaising with our choir leaders, support teams and being an integral part of our event planning and community outreach.

Admin Manager

Rose Allen

Choir Leader for Altrincham, Prescot, Leigh,
Withington, Haydock & Warrington

Music has been at the heart of Rose’s life from the very beginning. From her first piano lesson at the age of seven, she developed an adoration for listening, studying, and performingmusic - that has only continued to grow.
 

In 2024, she graduated with a First Class Honours Degree in Musical Theatre, from the Royal Conservatoire of Leeds, where she immersed herself in a vibrant and diverse musical community. During her time there, she discovered a true passion for musical direction, which has since shaped her professional journey.
 

Alongside performing, Rose has dedicated herself to teaching music and theatre to children across the North East, from one-to-one tuition to directing children’s theatre productions. Having been inspired and shaped by so many wonderful teachers and mentors throughout her own journey, she now feels it is her turn to give back - using the power of music to uplift others, create meaningful connections, and bring joy to her community.

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Mike Holcroft

Producer

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!)
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.

John Wright

Choir Leader for Morecambe, Lancaster, Fleetwood,
St Annes & Poulton-le-Fylde

John is a composer, performer and music educator based in Blackpool. Originally from the Midlands he moved to Dorset where he studied music. After this, he became a professional singer and musician performing solo and as part of a function band. 
 

John and his wife Lisa run a music business, teaching privately in primary schools as well as running community choirs and vocal workshops. John also composes soundtracks for computer game projects and continues to perform live for weddings and events, both as a solo artist and as a duo with his son Joel. 
 

John leads our Local Vocals' choirs in Morecambe, Lancaster, St. Annes, Poulton and Fleetwood. He is passionate about family, community, and providing opportunities for people to come together to experience the joy of singing as a community.

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George Harry Jones

Choir Leader for Clitheroe, Blackburn & Burnley

George is an experienced musician, educator and performer with a diverse background in teaching, live performance, and music production. His musical journey began in youth musical theatre, where he developed a passion for singing, ensemble performance, and stagecraft. He later earned a degree in Songwriting, equipping him with strong creative and technical skills in composition, arranging, and musical expression.

As an educator, George has worked extensively with young people, fostering creativity and confidence through music. His teaching emphasises collaboration, enjoyment, and the development of musical skills in accessible and engaging ways.
 

Alongside education, George has established himself as a professional recording artist and producer. He has written, arranged, and produced original music for a range of companies and creative projects, with work spanning from studio production to commercial commissions. George is also an active live performer, regularly playing gigs as a vocalist and guitarist.
 

He has experience singing for large audiences, bringing energy, confidence, and musicality to the stage. His wide-ranging background across performance, production, and education gives him a unique perspective as a choir leader, inspiring singers to discover their voices and experience the joy of collective music-making.

Phil Reynolds

Choir Leader for Oldham, Bury & Rochdale/Littleborough

Phil is a choir leader, vocal coach, professional bassist & music educator based in North Manchester. Originally from Cambridgeshire, he studied music at the Royal Academy of Music and, after graduating in 1995, worked as a musician in over 70 West End & UK touring shows with everyone from Elaine Paige & Michael Ball to Glenn Close & even Hugh Jackman. He has also performed with many top orchestras, played in jazz and rock ensembles and recorded at top recording studios including Abbey Road in London.

In 2002, Phil qualified as a music teacher and has since spent more than 20 years teaching music and performing arts in schools, colleges and university. Along the way, he's had the privilege of training with some of the industry’s top professionals, completing courses with Vocal Process, Embodima, The Voice Study Centre and others to deepen his expertise.

Phil currently teaches on the Musical Theatre course at the prestigious Pendleton School of Theatre in Salford, where he enjoys being able to pass on his knowledge and experience to future generations of West End performers. He also finds time to squeeze in a busy private teaching practice and even a few professional concerts and shows to keep his hand in as a bass player!

 

Phil is a firm believer in the power of song – and singing – to unite people and improve mental, physical and emotional well being. 

Nothing brings people together like a good choir, so he is delighted to help bring the Local Vocals experience to North Manchester!

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Jonny Rees

Choir Leader for Bolton & Salford

Jonny is a choir leader and music educator based in South Manchester. Originally from the North East, he studied music in York and, after graduating in 2011, has worked as a performer, singing teacher, and conductor, leading choirs and ensembles of all ages.
 

In 2019, Jonny relocated to Manchester, where he has focused on working as a music specialist in primary schools. Along the way, he's had the privilege of training alongside some of the region’s top professionals, completing courses with Hale and Sing For Pleasure to deepen his expertise.
 

He is deeply passionate about inspiring and empowering individuals to sing and create music together in a fun, accessible, and inclusive environment.

Beyond the music, Jonny loves using singing to bring joy to the local community, raising funds for important causes and charities.

Jen Addison-Jones

Choir Leader for Burscough, Hesketh Bank and Leyland

Jen has been singing and gigging from a young age and has always had a passion for music and its ability to bring people together. Her main musical influences are the Beatles, Amy Winehouse and Queen.

After studying and gaining her degree in music at the Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts, Jen has experienced working with other musicians in bands as well as getting involved in charitable events through performing.

Since graduating, Jen has worked as a music teacher specialising in vocals and piano - she cannot wait to get started as a choir leader at Local Vocals and is looking forward to creating fun choirs where everyone feels welcome and supported through the joy of singing!

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Tia Williams

Choir Leader for Halifax, Huddersfield, Leeds & Wakefield

Tia is a vocalist, songwriter and choir leader who trained at LIPA Sixth Form College and studied Studio Pop Vocals at Leeds Conservatoire.

She has been gigging professionally since the age of 15 and is a member of LC Pop Choir, who appeared on Britain’s Got Talent in 2025 and performed at the Royal Albert Hall.

Alongside her performance work, Tia teaches music with Mind the Gap, the UK’s largest SEN theatre company, and fronts her band Little Planets, performing at major festivals including CarFest, Sound City, and Deva Fest, to audiences of up to 13,000.

Sally Abraham

Choir Leader for Macclesfield, Knutsford, Sandbach and Wilmslow

Sally is a choir leader and music educator based in Greater Manchester. She began playing the piano at the age of five and has loved singing for as long as she can remember, developing a lifelong passion for ensemble music-making and performance. She studied Music at Durham University, where she built strong foundations in musicianship, performance, and collaboration.
 

After graduating, Sally spent over ten years living and working in London, teaching music in secondary schools while performing regularly as a member of the London Philharmonic Choir. During this time, she combined classroom teaching with high-level choral performance and professional recording projects, including sessions at Abbey Road Studios, gaining extensive experience across both education and the professional music sector.
 

Now based back in Manchester, Sally continues to teach music and lead choirs across schools and community settings. With over twenty years’ experience in music education, she works with singers of all ages and abilities, from beginners to advanced performers. Her approach as a choir leader is inclusive, supportive, and confidence-building, with a strong focus on musical enjoyment, vocal development, and collective achievement.
 

Sally is a passionate advocate for the power of singing to bring people together, improve wellbeing, and build strong communities. She is delighted to be leading these choirs and looks forward to creating a welcoming, joyful space where everyone can experience the connection and energy that only singing together can bring.

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