About Laurie Winckel, FNLP, CFNC
Heal the Body, Free the Voice
Laurie Winckel, FNLP, CFNC • Career Voice Teacher • Vocal Coach
I'm Laurie Winckel, FNLP, CFNC — a career voice teacher who became a board-certified functional nutrition counselor. I bring both worlds together so your voice and your health can finally work as one.
My approach
Your voice isn't just a skill — it's a reflection of your whole health. So I treat you as a whole person, not just an instrument to train. Whether you come for lessons, vocal health, or nutrition, we look at the full picture.
That means technique and performance, yes — but also what's happening in your body, your digestion, your nervous system, and your daily life. When the body heals, the voice frees up. That's the idea behind everything I do.
The Studio Space
A warm, welcoming, and dedicated room designed for healthy singing, private coaching, and creative growth — equipped with grand piano, studio recording, and full acoustic playback.
Credentials
- FNLP — Functional Nutrition & Lifestyle Practitioner
- CFNC — Board Certified Functional Nutrition Counselor
- B.M. — Bachelor of Music, Southwest Texas State (now Texas State), 1987
- Career Voice Teacher
- Vocal Health Specialist
- Singer
Official FNLP Certification
Functional Nutrition & Lifestyle Practitioner
Official FNC Certification
Functional Nutrition Counselor (CFNC)
AADP Board Certified
American Association of Drugless Practitioners
The Vocal Balance / Mix Technique
Laurie was trained in classical and choral methods, then extensively through the Institute of Vocal Advancement (IVA), rooted in 17th- and 18th-century Italian singing principles developed by the Schola Cantorum. The goal is to train voices to sing in a free, natural manner — smoothly from the bottom of the range to the top with no breaks or abrupt shifts in vocal quality.
Training in this technique gives singers access to all dynamics with tonal clarity, flexibility, and control. It dramatically improves range, endurance, stamina, breath management, acoustic resonance, and vocal strength across every style of music — without vocal fatigue or strain. This is accomplished by training the singer to find a precise balance between airflow and intrinsic muscular resistance, all within a comfortable resting laryngeal posture.
Laurie's Full Bio & Background
Laurie is a 1987 graduate of Southwest Texas State University (now Texas State University) where she studied voice with the late Harry Wayne, earning a Bachelor of Music Degree with an All-Level Texas Teaching Certification. With over 36 years of teaching experience, she is an extensively trained private voice teacher, a formerly certified Speech Level Singing Teacher, and has achieved the highest level of certification — Certified Mentor Voice Teacher — with the Institute of Vocal Advancement (IVA). She served as the Central US/Texas Area Representative for 8 years and as IVA Assistant Worldwide Area Representative Coordinator for three years. While most of her students are local to Central Texas, she teaches students and voice teachers throughout the United States and around the world.
College Training at Southwest Texas State University
Laurie is a 1987 graduate of Southwest Texas State University (now Texas State University) where she earned her Bachelor of Music Degree with an All-Level Texas Teaching Certification. Her rigorous collegiate training included private voice study with the esteemed late Harry Wayne, along with choral conducting and collegiate ensemble performance under the renowned Dr. Kenneth Fulton.
College Graduation (1987)
Bachelor of Music • with voice teacher Harry Wayne (in graduation attire)
Dr. Kenneth Fulton • Choral Director
Laurie's collegiate choir director & mentor at SWT
SWT Concert Choir • Dr. Kenneth Fulton
Collegiate concert choir & choral conducting under Choral Director Dr. Kenneth Fulton
Through constant continuing education and the continual study of vocal technique, Laurie brings the most effective, current, and accurate pedagogical information to her studio. She has personally studied with many of the world's top master teachers and vocal pioneers — including Harry Wayne, Maestro Seth Riggs, Jeffrey Skouson, Greg Enriquez, Linda Tomkinson, Kathy Kennedy, Guy Babusek, Dean Kaelin, Stephanie Borm-Krueger, Spencer Welch, and Gene Raymond. She brings complete stylistic flexibility to her students across pop, rock, jazz, country, musical theatre, classical/opera, and Christian/worship genres.
Studying with Maestro Seth Riggs
Founder & Creator of Speech Level Singing (SLS) • Author of "Singing for the Stars"
Laurie is a formerly certified Speech Level Singing teacher who personally studied with Maestro Seth Riggs, the legendary vocal coach to over 130 Grammy winners (including Michael Jackson, Stevie Wonder, Barbra Streisand, and Ray Charles). This foundational pedigree in vocal balance and mix technique forms the core of her teaching philosophy.
Studying with Greg Enriquez
Former SLS Master Teacher • Founder & CEO of Profty
Laurie also trains closely with Greg Enriquez, former Speech Level Singing Master Teacher and founder of Profty. Celebrated worldwide for his work with legendary Las Vegas headliners, Celine Dion, and artists in residency, Greg's master pedagogy in commercial vocal balance and performance dynamics is a key pillar of Laurie's ongoing advanced training.
In 2017, Laurie joined entertainment executive Bernard Porter (CEO & Founder of PCG Universal in Nashville, TN) as National Education Coordinator and Marketing Director. In 2020, PCG opened PCG Austin, where Laurie became Director of Artist Success, collaborating locally with PCG Austin President, record producer, and Blue October bassist Matt Noveskey out of Orb Recording Studios in Oak Hill. She frequently serves as a music industry vocal panelist, masterclass clinician, and artist development coach for emerging and professional artists — coaching alongside top Nashville music executives, songwriters, producers, and Broadway stars.
Coaching Alongside Nashville Music Execs, Producers, Songwriters & Broadway Stars
Through PCG Universal (Nashville), PCG Austin, and industry showcase panels, Laurie evaluates and mentors emerging artists alongside top-tier industry executives, producers, casting directors, and seasoned Broadway performers.
Dream Night Judging Panel
Celebrity Judge Greg Kihn & The reKihndled Band
With Matt Noveskey
Blue October • Orb Studios
With Tony Vincent
Broadway Star
Britton Cameron Coaching
Nashville Producer & Students
With Britton Cameron
Songwriter & Producer
Coaching Artists
PCG Universal, Nashville
With Molly & Bernard Porter
PCG Universal, Nashville
Keith Thomas & Bernard Porter
Producer Studio • Nashville
With Jennifer McGill
Former Mouseketeer • PCG Stage
Dream Night Winner
With Jenny Cova • Texan Theater
Boston Crusaders Drum & Bugle Corps
Laurie served as the vocal instructor for the Boston Crusaders Drum and Bugle Corps (Drum Corps International) for their 2018 summer tour, preparing the featured on-field vocalists for high-stamina stadium performance. She has also partnered with the Round Rock Express AAA Baseball organization as the National Anthem vocal coach and audition judge, and runs the entertainment stage at Round Rock Market Days every month.
Teaching at IVACON
Laurie actively trains other voice teachers in Central Texas and internationally. She authored a Leadership Development book for IVA Teachers, designed and taught courses on "Deep Practice" and "Studio Leadership" for online teachers worldwide, and presented masterclasses at the IVACON 2017 Voice Teachers Conference in San Diego as well as IVACON 2020.
Her collegiate focus was classical music education and choral conducting under Dr. Kenneth Fulton, with voice as her primary instrument and a minor in piano, alongside extensive dance and staging experience. Laurie taught middle and high school choir in Aldine ISD and Spring ISD for five years while singing with the Houston Symphony Chorus under Dr. Charles Hausman. After moving to Austin in 1992, she choreographed choir shows and theater productions across Austin ISD, Pflugerville ISD, Round Rock ISD, Leander ISD, and for the UT Longhorn Singers under Dr. Morris Stevens.
In 1994, Laurie founded the Christian Youth Choral Society of Austin (now CCSA/CAPA), directing up to 400 students across Central Texas. Her choirs earned sweepstakes awards at state competitions and performed for dignitaries, laying the foundation for an organization that thrives decades later.
She founded Vocal Edge Studio in 2006 and has taught up to 90 private students at a time. She served on staff as Vocal Instructor at N2Worship Camps at Hope Chapel in Austin for five years, and has worked extensively with church worship leaders across Austin and San Antonio. She co-founded and served as Musical Director for Round Rock's premier a cappella group "Gradient," and led her vocal quartet "Natural Blend" for six years before stepping down to focus more time on Vocal Health program expansion.
Gradient A Cappella
Laurie co-founded and served as Musical Director for Round Rock's premier contemporary a cappella ensemble “Gradient” for eight years, arranging, coaching, and performing intricate vocal harmony across the Central Texas region.
Natural Blend Vocal Quartet
Laurie singing and directing with her beloved four-part a cappella vocal quartet "Natural Blend," performing live at the Austin Trail of Lights on the H-E-B stage in Zilker Park.
Christian Youth Choral Society of Austin (CYCSA)
Early in her Central Texas career, Laurie founded and directed the Christian Youth Choral Society of Austin (CYCSA), training talented young singers in vocal technique and ensemble harmony. Under her leadership, the choir performed annual showcases, recorded live radio broadcasts in commercial recording studios, and had the high honor of singing for then-Texas Governor George W. Bush at the Texas Governor's Mansion. Laurie's husband, Chas, shared in the journey, faith, and support behind the choir throughout those foundational years.
CYCSA Choir (1996)
Annual choir showcase & stage performance
Gov. George W. Bush
Singing at the Texas Governor's Mansion
Live Radio Broadcast
In-studio recording & live on-air singing
Texas State Capitol
Singing in the Capitol rotunda & grand staircase
Laurie is a native Austinite and a graduate of McCallum High School. She has been married to her husband, Chas, since 1991. Together they have two active adult sons, a daughter-in-law, Chas's children, and 10 grandchildren. Together Laurie and Chas co-founded and weekly serve in their community feeding non-profit, Love Serve Feed. In her free time, Laurie loves course development, singing, reading, interior design, gardening, fitness, and creating an elaborate winter wonderland at home for the Christmas season.
Kat Whitlock — Student Instructor
11 years of vocal training • Over 100 hours of teacher training
Kat Whitlock has been a Vocal Edge Studio vocal student for over a decade. In 2020, she enrolled in Laurie's teacher-training course and has been actively teaching. Kat is an experienced alternative rock and pop singer with extensive touring experience fronting Austin music scene cover bands. As a songwriter and coach with exceptional ear and pedagogical skill, Kat teaches students in Round Rock and online.