Caroline Redman Lusher
Founder of the Rock Choir phenomenon – 150 choirs nationwide, and a membership of 4,500 and growing, offering everyone the opportunity to sing and perform pop, gospel and Motown songs. www.rockchoir.com
Q. Your name?
Caroline Redman Lusher
Q. Your school?
Saint Martin’s, Solihull
Q. Your current occupation?
Founder and Director of Rock Choir Ltd
Q. Your favourite subject at school?
Music
Q. Your best and worst memory of your school days?
Best – A fresh new start of each year in September. To get back to the beautiful school site and enjoy another year with fabulous peers and inspiring and caring staff.
Worst – leaving to go to Uni.
Q. What or who inspired you to follow your career?
A passion for music and singing inspired me – the love of performance and the 70s and 80’s bands and pop artists like Bonnie Tyler, Whitey Houston, Abba, ELO etc. The staff at Saint Martin’s supported me 100% with my music and the drama and music staff in particular guided me as an individual.
Q. What do you feel you gained by attending a girls’ only school?
I was able to be myself and concentrate on my music. There was an underlying understanding from the all female staff and students about who we were. As young women we were taught to nurture our skills and create confidence for ourselves. We were also brought up to consider others, behave gracefully and with kindness. It has helped me enormously now with 96% of my members being women and communication with them all is key.
Q. Any advice for parents choosing a school for their daughter?
The school environment needs to be a happy one where each individual student can be nurtured and skills identified from an early age so any opportunities for that student can be offered. I was fortunate to be taught by very talented and caring staff at Saint Martin’s and in turn I was very happy and secure there. I understand that the staff there tend to stay for the long term which suggests a happy work environment behind the scenes. As well as success in examinations, happiness for the student is hugely important – it creates confidence and a wonderful platform to leap into the professional world or into further education. Advice… talk to the staff- find out what they think behind the scenes!
Q. Any advice for girls planning their university and/or career choices?
Approaching university can be traumatic – but exciting too! Choose the right course for you and think ahead to what you want to do afterwards with that qualification. Make sure there is a department at the university committed to helping you find a job and career at the end of it- better still, go to them on day 1 and start discussing and preparing so you’re ahead of everyone else by the time you graduate! Year 1 is the hardest and a total shock in terms of acclimatising to a new way of life away from home! Don’t give up – lots of students drop out in year 1…stick at it no matter what and get through it! It’s tough but try to enjoy it as well!
Q.How did your school support you and help you develop your talent?
The school offered me a music scholarship and extended this into the 6th form. The staff allowed me to study and rehearse with music and prioritised this need over sports and other extra curricula activities to allow me to excel. I started to perform professionally at the age of 15 and the staff were always very supportive about me juggling my music life with school life. They were there for advice long after I left the school and I still now stay in touch with them.
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