Meet the Thirst Music team
We're proud of each and everyone of our team! Here are their portfolios...Our vocal 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.
Carly Tucknott
Head of Vocal Studies
After studying music to A-level at school, Carly successfully completed her ABRSM grade 8 exams in piano, voice and clarinet. During the following years, she has been a member of several local choirs, has established vocal quartet ‘Fourtissimo’, is lead singer in the function bands ‘Tailor Made‘ and ‘Underdog’ and more recently has formed acoustic trio ‘Carlzberg & The Champagne Flutes’ (along with fellow Thirst tutor Naomi Burton and familiar face on the local music scene, Charlie Holmes) all of which are regularly booked for events such as garden parties and weddings. Carly has competed in the Guernsey Eisteddford many times and enjoys busking and performing locally whenever the opportunity arises. Carly is experienced in many vocal styles from pop through to classical and especially loves musical theatre and has performed in many local amateur productions. Her particular specialism is the soprano voice and she believes that there’s no note too high to be reached! Carly is passionate about singing and is keen to pass on her enthusiasm, skills and experience to her students.
Kiya Ashton
Vocal Tutor
Kiya started out fronting rock bands including The Violet Diversion with songs from Evanescence and Papa Roach. Her solo project has now developed into a bigger sound as she is joined by band The Folkadelics, exploring a variety of genres, sounds and techniques. Kiya takes her inspiration from the vocalists of Paramore, The Cranberries, Tori Amos, AFI, and even Korn. Her voice also featured on the soundtrack of local film Occupied with a special arrangement of Sarnia Cherie which she later performed at the 2022 Liberation Hangar Ball. With six years of song writing experience, Kiya has released two original EPs demonstrating the progression of her music, and has recently composed the soundtrack for local short film ‘At Death We Part’.
As an avid event organiser, Kiya worked on the Upload Festival during lockdown and continued to support local solo & acoustic acts through the Guernsey Gigs Unplugged Club and stages at Arts Sunday.
Kiya has gained a Grade 8 qualification in Vocals with distinction and also has a BTEC Level 3 Subsidiary Diploma in Music with distinction. She very much enjoys sharing her passion for the voice with her students!