Caroline Redman Lusher (born Caroline Anne Lusher, 17 April 1974) is an English singer and musician, best known for being the founder and director of Rock Choir, the world's largest amateur contemporary choir.[1]
She is considered to be "responsible for the contemporary choir movement in the UK". She has also enjoyed a successful career as a solo artist, performing on various successful single releases, albums Rock Choir Vol.1[2] and Rock Choir Deluxe[3] released by Decca, the Together album by vocal group Blake and several albums by The Soldiers, including Coming Home, which reached double platinum status.[4][5]
Caroline Redman Lusher has gained four gold and platinum certified sales awards from the British Phonographic Industry. She has been awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Arts for her contribution to music and the arts from Salford University in 2024[6] and an Honorary Doctorate of Letters for her contribution to music and community from the London College of Music in 2017.[7]
Caroline Redman Lusher was presented with the Freedom of London in 2017 for her lifetime achievement with Rock Choir.
In 2024, Caroline Redman Lusher became a published author with the release of her autobiography, SING – The Story of Rock Choir[11], which details her career, personal journey, and the creation of Rock Choir.
Education and early career
Caroline Redman Lusher was a pupil at Saint Martins Independent Day School for Girls, Solihull from 1985 to 1992, winning the Christine Tucker Music Scholarship at the age of 11.
In honour of her career and success with Rock Choir, St. Martins named a new Year 7 Scholarship after her in 2012, the Caroline Redman Lusher Scholarship for the Performing Arts. It was awarded for the first time in 2013.
Caroline Redman Lusher went on to Salford University, where she gained a degree in popular music and recording.[12] Caroline Redman Lusher started performing professionally at the age of 14 at Liberty’s Nightclub, Hagley Road, Birmingham. Alongside her studies at Salford University, she performed at the Manchester Hilton before moving to London’s West End to continue her career as a singer and pianist, entertaining VIPs and celebrities in venues such as The Dorchester, Hyde Park, Langham and Lanesborough hotels. She later qualified as an A-level teacher in Performing Arts and Music with a certificate in education.[13]
Caroline Redman Lusher launched Rock Choir in 2005. Beginning with 70 members, it currently has more than 33,000 members across the UK.[14] Caroline 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".[15]
"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."[15]
Caroline Redman Lusher was invited to become one of the 100 founding members of the Guild of Entrepreneurs, which promotes excellence in entrepreneurship.[20]
In 2016, Caroline Redman Lusher was celebrated in the Smith & Williamson Power 100, which recognises individuals who support and inspire entrepreneurial growth in the UK.[21]
Philanthropy
Caroline Redman Lusher supports hundreds of local and national charities both personally and through Rock Choir and millions have been raised over the decades that Caroline and Rock Choir have been active in the UK.[22] In 2012 alone, through its performances and social events, Rock Choir helped raise over £1 million for charity.[23]
Since 2005, Caroline Redman Lusher has supported the profile-raising efforts of various national charities, including The Diana Award, Comic Relief, Cash for Kids, Mental Health Foundation, Missing People, and Refuge.[24] Under her direction, Rock Choir became an official community sponsor, encouraging its members and team to regularly raise funds through performances and events in support of these organisations.[25]
Caroline Redman Lusher has personally waived professional performance and recording fees to support charities, including Comic Relief and Help for Heroes.
"Caroline has been the driving force behind Rock Choir’s success. Her passion for bringing people together and making a difference has united people across the country."
"A pioneer in the world of music. She possesses a unique ability to bring people from different backgrounds together, to provide an escape from the everyday stresses of life, through music."
In February 2013, Sir Trevor McDonald announced Caroline 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 Caroline Redman Lusher for £17,000, which was raised by Rock Choir's 16,000 members via fundraising events in their communities. In 2014 and 2015, whilst Caroline Redman Lusher was an ambassador, Rock Choir has raised over £50,000 to help the charity offer a lifeline to families when someone disappears.[26]
"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[26]
In 2009, Caroline Redman Lusher signed a four-album record deal for Rock Choir with Decca/Universal and performed as a soloist on various projects, including the release of successful singles and albums.[30] In 2011, she featured in the ITV1 three-part documentary The Choir That Rocks, which followed her and her team as they prepared for a mass performance of over 8,000 Rock Choir members at Wembley Arena on 15 May 2011. Following the first episode, 23,000 people logged onto the Rock Choir website, causing a server crash, and 8,000 people submitted membership enquiries.[31]
In 2023 and 2024, Caroline Redman Lusher toured as the lead vocalist in each of the 11 regional shows of the Rock Choir-initiated tour, ‘You’re the Voice’, which sold out 10 of the 11 venues.[33]
In 2024, Caroline Redman Lusher became a published author with the release of her book, SING – The Story of Rock Choir[34], on 15 October 2024.
Author
Caroline Redman Lusher signed a publishing deal with Splendid Publications in 2023. Her autobiography, SING – The Story of Rock Choir, was released on 15 October 2024. The book is dedicated to her son, Hamilton, and details her lifelong relationship with pop music, along with the challenges and successes she experienced in creating and building Rock Choir.[35]
Featuring Caroline Redman Lusher's choir arrangement and her on lead vocal and 6000+ singers from Rock Choir.
• I Wish it Could Be Christmas Every Day (Single) 2023. [39]
Featuring Caroline Redman Lusher on lead vocal and The Rock Choir Vocal Group. Reached No.5 in the Official Download Chart, No.1 in the iTunes Pop Chart, No.2 in the iTunes Main Chart and No.8 in the Official Sales Chart.
Caroline Redman Lusher composed the choir arrangement for 4500 singers from Rock Choir along with the Rock Choir Vocal Group and sang the lead vocal. It reached No.1 in the Official Download Chart. No.1 in the Main iTunes Chart, No.1 in the Amazon Best Sellers Chart, and No.1 in the Official Sales Chart.
• The First Noel/Silent Night. (Single) 2019. [41]
Caroline Redman Lusher composed this arrangement with Jason Rebello and Kipper Eldridge and sang lead vocals.
• Don’t You Worry ‘Bout a Thing (Single) 2019. [42]
Caroline Redman Lusher created the choir arrangement and sang lead vocals.
Caroline Redman Lusher composed the vocal and choir arrangements and sang lead vocals on the first Rock Choir album, Rock Choir Vol. 1, released in 2010 by Universal/Decca Records. It reached No. 19 in the UK Album Charts, No.15 in the Physical Sales Chart, No.1 in the Amazon Best Sellers Chart, Pop Chart, Rock Chart, Easy Listening Chart and Pre-release Chart.
Rock Choir's second album, Rock Choir Deluxe, also featured song arrangements and lead vocals by Caroline Redman Lusher. It was released digitally to coincide with the airing of the three-part ITV1 documentary The Choir That Rocks. It reached number 17 in the UK digital downloads chart.
This album reached gold status, selling over 100,000 copies. It featured Caroline Redman Lusher in a duet with Corporal Ryan Idzi performing Wherever I Lay My Hat.
This album reached double platinum status and raised nearly £90,000 for the charity Help For Heroes. It featured Caroline Redman Lusher in the duet Against All Odds. Caroline Redman Lusher donated her performance fee to Help For Heroes.
Caroline Redman Lusher featured on the track, dueting with the 4 classical male singers, which was released as a single from the popular album Together. Caroline Redman Lusher donated her performance fee to Help For Heroes.
One of the biggest selling albums of 2009, reaching sales of over 600,000 and achieving double platinum status. Caroline Redman Lusher featured again in Against All Odds.
Personal life
Caroline grew up in Knowle, Solihull [53]. She moved to London’s Docklands in 1995 and then to Farnham in 1999. On 2 August 2008, Caroline married pilot Stuart Redman. They live near Farnham, Surrey and have a son named Hamilton, born in 2020[54].
Caroline Redman Lusher's father is former British Airways Chief Pilot[55] Dave Lusher. Husband Stuart is a Captain on the King Air and a training-pilot for the UK’s disabled pilot’s charity, Aerobility[56]. He is also an accomplished guitarist and CEO of Rock Records Ltd[57].
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