Caroline Redman Lusher

Redman Lusher was a pupil at Saint Martins Independent Day School for Girls, Solihull from 1985 – 1992, winning the Christine Tucker Music Scholarship at the age of 11. In honour of her success, St. Martins named a new Year 7 Scholarship after her in 2012, the Caroline Redman Lusher Scholarship for the Performing Arts. It will be awarded for the first time in 2013. Redman Lusher went on to Salford University, where she gained a degree in popular music and recording.[6] Redman Lusher started performing professionally at the age of 15. She worked in London's West End as a singer, entertaining VIPs and celebrities in venues such as The Dorchester, Hyde Park and Lanesborough hotels. She also qualified as an A-level teacher in Performing Arts and Music.[7]

In 2001 Redman Lusher was teaching A-level music and performing arts at the Sixth Form College, Farnborough, Hampshire, when she devised the concept of Rock Choir.[7]

Redman Lusher launched Rock Choir in 2005. Beginning with 70 members, it currently has more than 25,000 members across the UK.[8] Redman Lusher is widely considered to be the pioneer of the "no audition, no need to read music" amateur contemporary choir movement. An article in the Sunday Times Culture Magazine in 2009 called her "the key to the choir's success".[9]

"Others have attempted a similar formula, but none have turned an amateur group singing pop songs into a brand this powerful. She stands out for her rigorous classical training (Grade 8 piano and violin by 15; a degree in popular music from Salford; a thesis on Annie Lennox's songwriting style) and her insistence on a slick, professionally run outfit. Rock Choir works with a variety of people, from rights lawyers to web technicians to sound engineers. The selection and harmonising of the music – sometimes up to seven-part harmony, no mean feat – is done by Lusher herself."[9]

In July 2017 Caroline Redman Lusher received an Honorary Doctor of Letters from the London College of Music in association with The University of West London. This prestigious award is to honour Caroline for her magnanimous contribution to music education and for the innovation of Rock Choir which has inspired the nation's communities to sing and perform. Caroline became an honorary doctor of the university on 25 July 2017 at Wembley Stadium along with 350 music graduates at their annual ceremony. It is usual that after graduation Caroline will now be invited to be a ‘Visiting Professor’ which will include masterclass teaching at London College of Music.

An honorary Doctor of Letters recognises Caroline's outstanding achievements which will have had a long-term and significant impact on the country. She stands out at a national level as an example to others. Other community choirs inspired by Rock Choir will recognise Caroline's contribution as inspirational and significant requiring unending commitment over a long period of time.

After Caroline created Rock Choir in 2005, it has become a British success story and remains the trail-blazer at the forefront of contemporary community singing. It was the first of its kind, inspiring individuals and communities to join together and sing contemporary songs without the need for audition or to read music. Whilst others tried to replicate its success, Caroline's reputation dramatically grew, attracting thousands of individuals to join Rock Choir to take part in its unique and exciting experience.

Redman Lusher is a popular speaker at corporate events, educational workshops and business conferences, for organisations such as British Telecom, the WI, the Welsh Women Mean Business Awards, the Yorkshire Countrywomen's Association, and the Red Ribbon Awards. She has also incorporated music and song into team-building workshops run for companies including Virgin Money, Procter & Gamble and Santander.[7]

Redman Lusher supports numerous local and national charities both personally and through Rock Choir. In 2012 Rock Choir helped raise over £1 million for charity[10] through its performances and social events. Redman Lusher has helped raise the profile of Rock Choir's two official charities, Missing People and Refuge, and agreed that Rock Choir should become official community sponsors of Missing People, regularly raising money through events and supporting the charity behind the scenes.

In February 2013, Sir Trevor McDonald announced Redman Lusher's appointment as an ambassador for Missing People. Sir Trevor made the announcement at the charity's offices in Mortlake as he formally accepted a cheque from Redman Lusher for £17,000, which was raised by Rock Choir's 16,000 members via fundraising events in their communities. Over the past two years, Rock Choir has raised over £50,000 to help the charity offer a lifeline to families when someone disappears.[11]

"As Patron of the charity Missing People, I am truly delighted to welcome Caroline Redman Lusher as Ambassador of the charity. If your child went missing wouldn't you want the world to stop and look for them? Thanks to Caroline, Rock Choir communities across the UK have already raised significant funds and awareness to aid the search. I know that she will be a truly formidable force as the charity seeks to bring more missing children and vulnerable adults to safety." – Sir Trevor McDonald[11]

Redman Lusher is also a patron of the charity W4W (Words for Wounded) alongside Louis de Bernières and Julian Fellowes. W4W supports the rehabilitation of wounded servicemen and women.[12]

Redman Lusher gained a 2:1 BA Honours degree in Popular Music and Recording from Salford University, and has grade eight certificates in both violin and piano from the Royal School of Music.[2] She has described a major early influence as Annie Lennox – Redman Lusher based her university dissertation on Lennox's composition skills. Other early influences include Tina Turner, ELO, and Aretha Franklin.[13]

• Rock Choir Vol. 1 Rock Choir (2010)
• Perfect Day Various Artists (2010) 'Something Inside So Strong'
• Rock Choir Deluxe Rock Choir (2011)
• The Soldiers The Soldiers (2012) 'Songbird'
• Message To You The Soldiers (2011) 'Wherever I Lay My Hat'
• Best Of The Soldiers (2011) 'Against All Odds'
• Love Songs The Soldiers (2010) 'Against All Odds'
• Together Blake (2009) 'Unsung Hero'
• Unsung Hero Blake (2009) 'Unsung Hero'
• Coming Home The Soldiers (2009) 'Against All Odds'

On 2 August 2008 Redman Lusher married pilot Stuart Redman, who is a pilot. They live in Farnham, Surrey.[5]

Redman Lusher's father (a.k.a. Captain Rock Choir) is former British Airways Chief Pilot[14] Dave Lusher, who is now Rock Choir's company secretary. Her sister Liz Lusher is also British Airways cabin crew.[2]

In 2011 Redman Lusher starred in the three-part ITV1 documentary The Choir that Rocks, which followed her and her team as they prepared for a mass performance by more than 8,000 Rock Choir members at Wembley Arena on 15 May 2011. After the first episode, 23,000 people logged onto their website, crashing the Rock Choir server, and 8,000 people emailed with membership enquiries.[2]

• Official website
• Official Rock Choir website