Meet the Thirst Music team
We're proud of each and everyone of our team! Here are their portfolios...Our keyboard and piano tutors
Lisa Murfitt
Deputy Head, Keyboard/Piano/Vocal Tutor
Lisa’s initial musical background was that of a classically trained flautist through the Guernsey Music Centre. However, her love of harmony led her to seek out keyboard skills at home. In her teens, Lisa was heavily involved in church music groups which laid the foundations for her ability to sight sing and improvise vocal harmonies.
After gaining an A grade at both GCSE and A-Level Music, as well as attaining Grade 8 in Flute, Lisa went on to study Music and Related Arts at Chichester University. Here her experiences were widened greatly through Jazz, Rock and free Improvisation and Related Arts, as well as performances in the UK and Europe with the Chichester University Chamber Choir and free improvisation group Pivo Prosim.
Following her degree, Lisa went on to Study a PGCE in Secondary Music Education at Bath Spa University, and later completed her NQT year in Carisbrooke High school in the Isle of Wight, where she taught Key Stage 3, GCSE, AS- and A-level music.
Since 2002, Lisa has returned to Guernsey with her husband and has taught both privately and through Prelude Music School, Music Centre and Adult Education. She has also spent four years as the keyboard player and vocalist with the popular Guernsey function band The Bandits, also playing with Top Banana, Wild Card and Elysium.
Lisa is also a keen writer and acoustic performer and performs covers as well as her own songs at various local venues.
Lisa’s passion is to be part of the local music scene and, through teaching, to enable others to share in the pleasure of playing music and performing with other people.
Deborah Lawson
Piano Tutor
Deborah studied for a DipHE at King Alfred’s College in Winchester and then went on to graduate with a BA Honours Degree from the City of London Polytechnic. Since then she has gained experience working in primary schools whilst studying for a PGCE.
Deborah also completed a level 4 PTLLS course 10 years ago qualifying her to teach in the lifelong learning sector. Having started playing the piano as a child, Deborah returned to learning in later life and passed her ABRSM Grade 5 Music Theory exam with Distinction. Deborah has now achieved her ABRSM Grade 8 in Piano with Merit.
She is passionate about music, teaching, playing the piano and has been an active member of a local choir in recent years. Having also had experience of teaching privately, Deborah is really enjoying the more structured format of teaching at Thirst.
Bethan Batiste
Piano/Saxophone/Clarinet Tutor
Bethan’s love of music began during her school years where she began learning the clarinet and eventually progressed to achieving her Grade 8 qualification in addition to gaining her GCSE and A-level grades in Music. She also studied the piano and saxophone during this time. On leaving school, Bethan took a course in woodwind repairs and completed her Level 3 qualification in Education and Training.
When Bethan is not teaching, she can be found playing in the Guernsey Jazz Orchestra and the Symphonic Wind Band.
Adam Reece
Piano Tutor
Adam was part of the Manchester Dance Music scene in the 1990s and one track, The Deep, reached number one in the industry standard UK Buzz Charts and was the first white label to be released by 3 Beat Records.
In the late 1990s Adam moved to Galway in Ireland and formed the band Medicine Man. His CD Filling in time secured a publishing deal with Gaell Lynn and the band toured and performed throughout Ireland and Europe. In 2001 Adam began a career at sea that would span over twenty years playing the piano on some of the world’s most prestigious cruise lines, including Cunard, Royal Caribbean, Seabourne. Saga, P & O and Fred Olsen.
Whilst at sea, Adam studied for a Master’s degree and a PhD, and successfully defended his thesis at the University of Roehampton in 2015, looking at how music can enhance communication skills in children. He went on to teach music and practice music therapy at alternate educational establishments throughout Cornwall up until 2023 when he came to Guernsey to take up a post at ‘Les Voies School’ where he is part of the Education Outreach Team. Adam also teaches music at different schools around the island. In addition, he is still actively writing and composing new music for local singer, Emily Fern and regularly performs at live music venues around the island.