Studio News & Updates
Celebrating our students' achievements — from Broadway debuts and regional theatre leads to original single releases and competitions — plus Laurie's articles on vocal health and technique.
Congrats to Vocal Edge Student, Elle Townley, featured as a "Rising Star of Georgetown" in Voyage Houston Magazine! In her feature interview, Elle shares her journey as a country singer-songwriter, her releases, performing across Texas and Tennessee, and gives a special shout-out to her long-time vocal coach Laurie Winckel!
She's back! Our Alum, Sadie Dickerson is returning to Broadway this November for an encore run in "Just in Time", stepping back into the lead role of Sandra Dee! We are so proud of her! Read the announcement below!
Congrats to Lori Beth Brooke for being nominated for two Academy of Western Art awards in 2025: Western Swing Female Vocalist and Western Swing Album! She was also nominated for a 2026 Josie Award with her album "Light of the Moon". She's busy performing all over the US and she just keeps winning!
Congrats to Ava Cavalier for being selected to perform as part of the Honors Performance Series at Carnegie Hall in February 2027! We are so excited for her!
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Congrats to Vocal Edge Student, Eli Johnson-Bell, who just won the lead role of Vice Principal Douglas Panch in the musical "The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee", which will be performed by the Georgetown High School Theater Department!
Congrats to Elle Townley for winning the Texas Country Music Association Young Artist of the Year award in November 2025! We are so proud of you!
Congrats to Elle Townley for winning 2026 Vocalist of the Year - Under 18 at the Josie Music Awards in Nashville, Tennessee! She was awarded in September at the Grand Ole Opry! Congrats Elle! We are so proud of you!
She did it! Our Alum, Sadie Dickerson had her opening night on Broadway in the lead role of Sandra Dee, playing alongside a star-studded cast! We are so proud of her! If you are in New York, book your tickets for "Just in Time"! Super excited for her!
Big applause for the talented Cessac sisters! Marielle, Eden, and Lovelyn Cessac are making major waves in regional theatre! Marielle starred as Young Anna in Disney's Frozen at the Georgetown Palace Theatre, while Eden (as Shprintze) and Lovelyn (as Bielke) shared the stage in Fiddler on the Roof! Pictured here are two of the Cessac girls recording their theatre audition videos during their voice lessons at Vocal Edge Studio. Read their news features and theatre coverage below!
Vocal Edge Student, Elle Townley, performs on FOX News Austin, with our favorite Guitarist and guitar teacher, Brian Curtis. Elle is in the running for Young Artist of the Year with the Texas Country Music Association Awards for the 3rd year in a row!
Round Rock Express National Anthem's sung by Natural Blend on Friday, Aug 29 Leslie Weldon or Saturday, Aug 30 and Laurie Winckel, Sunday, Aug 31. It's one of our most beloved local events!
Natural Blend Entertainment Group performs at the Texas Strong/Georgetown Strong Flood Relief Back to Joy event for the recent flood survivors from Gerogetown! We planned a day of live music, great food and an all day pass the Kalahari Water Park.
Congratulations to Vocal Edge Teachers in Training, Kat Whitlock and Michaela Watson, who have earned 75+ hours of voice teacher training, as of July 2024. They are still in training, while running their studios, and will soon reach the 100 hour mark! They are excellent teachers and I am proud of their progress!
Vocal Edge Studio Owner & Vocal Instructor, Laurie Winckel, Just graduated from a ten month Functional Nutrition program, called Functional Nutrition Alliance, and is now a certified CFNC - Certified Functional Nutrition Counselor and has earned her Board certification with the Association of American Drugless practitioners. She graduated with her CFNC in January 2025 and is now licensed to help singers not only address vocal technique, performance and vocal health, she can help singers look more deeply into health issues they are experiencing which have an effect on their singing/performance. She is willing to share general health tips for health/vocal health, and is also ready to work with singers on an individual level to pinpoint root causes of symptoms and come up with a specific nutritional plan for them. CFNC's are recognized as liaisons between patients and their doctors because they are the investigators and do the research into the roots of illness, pain, fatigue, etc. In June, 2025, she completed her Functional Nutrition Lifestyle Practitioner certification. (FNLP). To book an appointment, please email lessons@vocaledgestudio.com
April 2024 - Congratulations to Aline Garza on the release of her latest single "Superhero" (an anti-bullying song) and Sofie Angelia on her new release "Broken". Check them out on all platforms!
February 6, 2024 Singers - National Anthem auditions for the Round Rock Express 2024 season is at Kalahari! 5-9 pm!
February 2024 Congrats to Kate Angel on her new single release "Venom" It's available on all platforms! Watch the video here
January 2024 Congrats to Aline Garza on her new single release "Day One" It's available on all platforms! Watch the video here
June 23, 2022 Congrats to Jenny Cova on her new single release "I believe it" It's available on all platforms! Watch the video here
Summer 2023 Congrats To Danielle Kaigler, who is playing the role of Miss Honey at the Summer 2023 Zilker Hillside Theater Production
Fall 2023- February 2024 Congrats To Danielle Kaigler, who moved to New York and is performing around town and working on staff with the cast of the new production of Cabaret on Broadway! She's just got her foot in a huge door! So proud of her!
Congrats to Danielle Kaigler, who stars in the lead role of Sandy in Grease live at The Georgetown Palace Theatre! So proud of her incredible talent and stage presence!
Congrats To Danielle Kaigler, who is playing the role of Medda Larkin/Nun at the Summer 2022 Zilker Hillside Theater Production
Congrats to Grace Sorensen (@realgraces) on being named KUTX Artist of the Month! Grace is one of our talented commercial artists who's been songwriting, performing live, recording, and releasing music. Be sure to follow her and show your support so you don't miss any of her new releases. Check out her KUTX Artist of the Month feature below!
Grace Sorensen talks about opening for the legendary Diana Ross! Four years ago, our talented student Grace sat down on the Pop Austin Media podcast to share the incredible story of being asked to open for Diana Ross at the Austin Child Guidance Center benefit concert at the Germania Insurance Amphitheater. Check out the podcast interview and news coverage below!
Adults - If you enjoy live music, y'all be sure to follow these artists. They all perform frequently: @jenuinecello
Congrats to Elle Townley for winning the Old Settlers Music Festival's Youth Competition, 2021! She will be performing at the Old Settlers Music Festival this spring!
Laurie Winckel and country music guitarist and guitar teacher, Brian Curtis perform a duet together at Round Rock Market Days @ Prete Main Street Plaza in downtown Round Rock!
Listen & Watch
Singer info on vocal technique and vocal health — watch Laurie's podcast and subscribe to the Vocal Edge Studio YouTube channel.
Laurie was a guest on the Unbreakable Studios Podcast — a conversation on resilience, vocal health, and building a voice (and a life) that lasts.
Hosted by Theresa Pore · Unbreakable Studios Podcast
Laurie appeared as a guest on this episode.
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Visit ChannelStudent & Alumni Music
A playlist of new and original music from current and alumni Vocal Edge students — the voices Laurie has coached, now making their own mark. Press play and listen.
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