The team

Fischy Music was founded in 1998 by Stephen Fischbacher, who is our Creative Director. Our team consists of musicians, office-based staff and volunteers, such as our Board of Directors.

Creative Team

Stephen Fischbacher MBE

Founder and Executive Director

Stephen was born Glasgow, studied in Canada and has been living in Edinburgh for many years.

There is nothing he enjoys more than playing with his grandchildren, fly fishing a Highland loch, or singing with a group of children. A plate of Moussaka is a close second!

Suzanne Butler

Associate Director

Suzanne has been involved with Fischy Music since its founding in 1998. After a Music Degree at Edinburgh University, she was the second staff member (after Stephen!) to be employed in 2001, and since then has had a variety of roles in the growing organisation.

As Associate Director she works alongside Stephen and the team in strategic planning and delivery, but also plays an active role in the event team, and in creating the songs and resources that are used by schools, families and community groups across the UK.

As a songwriter, singer and violinist in her own right, Suzanne is passionate about the vital role of music and song in our lives – both individually and in society. She lives in East Lothian with her husband and two children.

Margaret McLarty

Creative Consultant

Bio to follow.

Christy Campbell (Maternity Leave)

Senior Event Leader

Christy was born in Edinburgh and spent her childhood and teenage years in Trondheim, Norway. She did a Masters in Songwriting and Performance and has been writing songs and singing ever since!

Christy loves skiing and swimming and very dark chocolate. She lives in Glasgow with her husband and son.

Lewis Petrie

Event Leader

Even though Lewis joined the team in August 2022, he has been singing Fischy songs for most of his life!

Attending primary school in Edinburgh, he developed a passion for music at an early age. Lewis grew up singing Fischy Music songs in assemblies and started playing guitar when he was 11. After graduating from university with a BA (Hons) Music Degree, he continues to perform and engage with music regularly. He loves playing guitar and recently rekindled his enthusiasm for running!

Rachel Sunter

Event Leader

Rachel is an Edinburgh based musician who graduated in 2023 with a Music Degree from Aberdeen University. She was a first study percussionist but loves to play a variety of instruments in different ensembles.

Alongside her work with Fischy Music, Rachel is an instrumental and music theory tutor and enjoys performing with the Edinburgh Concert Band and Cadenza chamber choir. She has also been invited to play percussion with the Scottish Sinfonia, the Origin Orchestra and the Scottish Fiddle Orchestra.

With a love for music in and out of the concert hall, Rachel has led several musical activities for children and the elderly, from samba drumming workshops to afternoon tea sing-alongs.

Office Team

Fiona Cain

Operations Coordinator

Fiona has a Degree in Applied Consumer Studies and a Postgraduate Diploma in Marketing. She has over 20 years’ experience in the charity sector working with various charities mainly focused on children and young people.

She enjoys long walks with her dog and travelling adventures with her family in their campervan.

Judith Gray

Marketing Manager

Judith has a Communications and Media Degree and worked in Marketing before a career change into Early Years music, and now combines both marketing and music in her role at Fischy Music.

She enjoys all things outdoors, especially running and kayaking and even a little plein air sketching when the weather is sunny!

Louise Wright

Finance Manager

Louise grew up in Wales but came to study Music Technology (alongside Suzanne!) in Edinburgh before undertaking various administrative roles in both the charity and private sector. She took a career break whilst raising a family which frequently meant leading preschool singing sessions in multiple Mum’s and Toddler groups.

She resumed work with a taster in finance where she thrived, and is now delighted to be in a role which combines her skills with her passion for music, singing and singing for children.

Louise has been actively singing and involved in music making since she joined the school choir age 7 and has now been a member of the Edinburgh Singers choir for over 20 years!

Board of Directors

Our Directors are a key part of our team. They are responsible for:

Establishing clear strategic, business and financial objectives
Ensuring that the organisation operates within the law and within limits set by its Deed
Ensuring that the organisation exercises responsibility in financial and other affairs and remains solvent
Monitoring and reviewing all aspects of the organisation’s performance
Ensuring that the organisation demonstrates best practice in all aspects of its work

John Cross

John, a Glaswegian who has lived in Bannockburn for over 35 years, is a retired secondary school RME teacher. Married to Jan, he has three grown up children and one grandson.

He was heavily involved in the Carberry Festival and was previously on the boards of Scripture Union and Solas Festival. His main hobby in retirement is playing walking football.

Richard Napier

Richard is a married father of three who has worked in education for 23 years.

He is passionate about inclusion, nurture, mindfulness and pupil/staff wellbeing. He has worked in schools across Edinburgh, using Fischy Music to support pupils and families.

Rachel Billes

Rachel is a recently qualified, enthusiastic primary teacher based in Edinburgh.

Fischy Music has supported Rachel right through her childhood and she now uses the resources to support her teaching practice. Pupil and teacher wellbeing is of top importance to Rachel and she loves singing and playing the violin and ukulele!

Rev Gayle Taylor

Glasgow born and bred, Gayle was Parish Minister of Bishopton for 10 years, Associate Minister for Children and Youth in Colinton in Edinburgh for 10 years and is now Transition Minister in Newbattle, Midlothian.

Always a School Chaplain integrating music and wellbeing into assemblies and group work and as a qualified counsellor, she has worked with the army, Place2Be and part time for two years as a Bereavement Support Practitioner with Child Bereavement UK in The Royal Hospital for Children in Glasgow. Gayle loves live music and running.

Donna Hastings

As the Child and Families Lead at St Columba’s Hospice Care in Edinburgh, Donna has a wealth of experience in childhood bereavement, is an integrative counsellor, childhood grief therapist and Health Play Specialist. Donna is part of the working group for the Bereavement Charter for Children and Adults in Scotland and a member of the advisory group for the Childhood Bereavement Network.

Donna is passionate about childhood grief and improving outcomes for children and young people facing bereavement or who are bereaved in childhood and is an advocate for children to be given choice and to be included when someone is dying or has died.

Andy Wright

Originally from Edinburgh where he used to play keyboards and bass guitar in a band with a certain Mr S Fischbacher, Andy is now based in the Scottish Borders where he leads the music worship for the local churches, is a director of two local community development companies and for a day job leads a large procurement team at Edinburgh University.

Andy is heavily involved in the creative arts sector with his wife, running a youth musical theatre company and operating one of the largest dance schools in the country. He is also involved in stage production and operates lighting and sound for numerous shows and artists including the 2023 Fischy 25th Anniversary concert series.