Today we went off to BBC Radio Devon to record an interview with Breakfast Radio Presenter John Acres which will be aired while we are in New York preparing for our performance at Carnegie Hall! Very exciting time to be a Rockie in Devon and Cornwall.  Very excited to be conducting and playing violin on the Carnegie Hall stage!  BBC Devon Rock Choir Caroline Redman Lusher

Just returned from our Rock Choir Tour to the Edinburgh Fringe and straight up the Devon Link Road to the beautiful North Devon coast.  I joined up with the fabulous Exe Valley String Quartet and went up to Sandy Cove Hotel in Ilfracombe for a lovely wedding.  It was a bit soggy so we had to play indoors but that didn't matter at all. We even got to play our brand new arrangement of 'I don't wanna miss a thing' by Airosmith for the Brides entrance. We get to play at some stunning venues.

Lovely small intimate wedding today at Bovey Castle Music requests included Ed Sheeran Perfect, Can’t help falling in love with you, At Last, The first time ever I saw your face and Celebrate by Kool and the Gang. I also stayed and played for the drinks reception out on the balcony with the beautiful Dartmoor as the back drop. #musiciandevon #weddingviolinist #devonviolinist

I played the violin as part of a lovely funeral yesterday at St Stephens Church in Saltash. Its always a difficult gig because the music plays such an important part in setting the right feel and tone for such an occasion. I played a few pieces as a solo before the service started and then played 'Nearer my God to Thee' during a quiet moment for reflection. This is such a beautifully constructed melody and sounds so emotional with a celtic feel. The funeral was full of great music including a piper playing before and after the service. #musiciandevon

Back to our second home today Rockbeare Manor. Always a lovely place to visit. Beautiful wedding as well in the Devon sunshine. We played 'Latch' by Sam Smith today during the signing of the register which is a really lovely song. We also played a slowed down acoustic version of 'Came here for love' which works so well for string quartet. Then we went outside into the garden house to play a range of pieces and songs for the drinks reception.

Brilliant Sunday music day. I joined the Plymouth Philharmonic Choir choir and orchestra to put on an amazing performance of Verdis Requiem at the wonderful Plymouth Guildhall. What a great piece of music! Loved the challenge of a last minute switch to violin one!

I had a great afternoon with my friends in the Exe Valley String Quartet yesterday. Another trip to our most popular wedding venue of 2021 Rockbeare Manor. We played for the drinks reception only which gave us the opportunity to play some of our new more modern arrangements including a very funky/jazzy version of L-O-V-E (Frank Sinatra), Under the Bridge (Red Hot Chilli Peppers) and On Melancholy Hill (Gorillaz). We really pride ourselves on being versatile and the guests really appreciate it.

I had the privilege to play at Jodie and Jack’s wedding on Saturday. A beautiful winter wedding at the stunning Trevenna Barns. Jodie came in to ‘More than a woman to me ‘ by Billie Joel. We had ‘How long will I love you’ and ‘This will be’ during the signing and the very beautiful 'Better Together' by Jack Johnson to exit. Great wedding with very appreciative guests. We even had some dancing! #musiciandevon #devonviolinist

On Septermber 18th I returned to one of my favourite new venues Shilstone House. This is a really lovely venue with lots of helpful staff.  Congratulations to Hayley and Ben on a cracking ceremony. So nice to see people singing along and dancing along when I play some of the tunes.  It was nice to play 'No place I'd rather be' again after a while.  It was a day of pop and rock classics in the September sunshine.

Lovely wedding today with Sidmouth as the back drop.  This is The Sidmouth Harbour Hotel.  Nice to play outdoors in the sunshine.  Congratulations to Milly and Danny. Due to the liscence detail at the hotel I had to play acapella when outside so although this was a challenge it was a new refreshing sound and something I haven't had to do before.  I also played some piano tunes for the guests during the wedding breakfast.  Great song choices, How long will I love you, Adventure of a lifetime and then my new arrangement of Wildest Dreams from Bridgeton for the signing of the register.

Some more pictures from Wednesdays wedding ay Brickhouse Vineyard. A beautiful venue in the lovely sunshine. A nice small and intimate wedding ceremony with 1000 years for the brides entrance, 'I vow to thee my country' for the signing of the register and then a new arrangement that I have just written of 'Shine' by Years and years for the wedding party exit. (A great track!). I also stayed on to play for the drinks reception which gave me the chance to play another new arrangement, this time Aha's famous classic 'Take on me'. Another lovely wedding. Congratulations to Rachael and Craig.

Last Saturday I joined the Exe Valley String Quartet as we returned to a very familiar venue. We play many weddings and events at Bovey Castle every year so it was nice to be back after a break due to Covid. A beautiful wedding and the chance to play some of our classical repertoire pre ceremony. We played outside overlooking Dartmoor for the drinks reception. This gave us the chance to play a few of our new arrangements and some old pop and rock classics.

Wednesday 18th August. Short trip down the A38 to the very beautiful Shilstone House to play for the wedding of Robbie and Emma. What a lovely place to play. We had the very lovely 'Canon in D' for the entrance music, 'All of me' for the signing and then a brand new arrangement of 'Simply the best' for the exit music. We then went into the gardens for the drinks reception where I rocked things up a bit with Sigala, Bastille and even a little bit of Moana! Great day. Congratulations to Robbie and Emma. Lots of lovely guests giving me lots of lovely feedback.

Saturday 7th August I went off to the amazing Paschoe House. I have played there many times with the Exe Valley String Quartet but this was my first visit as a soloist. Congratulations to Cerys and Jack on your beautiful wedding ceremony. I played 'Can't help falling in love with you' for the entrance of the bridal party. I then played 'A million dreams' and my new arrangement of 'Hold my girl' by George Ezra which was a special request from Cerys. I then played 'Adventure of a lifetime' by Coldplay for the exit. I love playing that opening riff on the fiddle!! The rain didn't make any difference to the day as I played a varied set list for the drinks reception.

Back to the solo gigs this weekend. Friday 6th August I went off to a new venue for me - Barons Hill Farm. Lovely to play in the great outdoors and I even had a tractor in the audience - now that's a first. Congratulations to Laura and Tom on your wedding. I enjoyed arranging and learning "Old Pine' by Ben Howard for Laura's entrance. I also played Shotgun and Don't stop me now' in the signing of the register and then the happy couple exited to 'I will wait' by Mumford and Sons. I loved the venue and the festival vibe to the occasion.

I know that I say this a lot but I really do get to play at some beautiful places. I started August with a wedding just down the road at The Great Barn Devon with the Exe Valley String Quartet. We played for the ceremony only today in a beautifully converted barn with a really lovely acoustic. The bride and bridesmaids walked into 'Can't help falling in love with you'. We played 'What a wonderful world' and 'Moonriver' for the signing of the register and then 'God only knows' by the Beach boys for the exit of the bridal party and guests. Lovely venue and lovely weather.

The weekend continued on Sunday 11th July this time in Torquay and the very beautiful The Osborne Hotel. What a stunning backdrop for a wedding ceremony! Congratulations to Razan and Ahmad on your wedding day. You both looked amazing and Im so sorry it rained on your big day. A first for me though - playing Canon in D under a brolly in Torquay!

July 3rd 2021. My busy week of gigs continued down in Wembury by Plymouth with a lovely wedding in a private garden. Congratulations to Liam and Emily on such a lovely and unique wedding ceremony. It was a pleasure to be a small part of your wonderful and special day. Music requests included 'All of me' by John Legend, 'Hallelujah' by Leonard Cohen and of course Pachelbel's Canon for Emily's entrance.

June 27th 2021 - I had the honour of playing at this beautiful venue in Somerset St Audries Park Wedding Venue last week. Huge congratulations to Becky and Jack on a great wedding. It was lovely to see so many people there as well. The ceremony was in the orangery which had a great acoustic. Becky walked into Canon in D and then I played The river flows in you and Ed Sheeran's Perfect during the signing of the register. The wedding party then literally danced out to 'Shut up and dance'. We then all moved into the main house for the drinks reception where I got to try out my new Michael Jackson medley. Lovely day at a lovely new venue.