Audrey Schuh Redmann

Audrey Schuh Redmann passed away on October 28, 2023, surrounded by the family she loved and who loved her. 

Born Audrey Clare Schuh on June 11, 1931, she was a graduate of Sophie B. Wright High School.  She later graduated with a Med Tech degree from Loyola University of New Orleans in 1950 at only 18 years of age. Following graduation, she taught for two years at Loyola University and worked in Pathology for Hotel Dieu Hospital on Tulane Avenue in New Orleans.

But it was her beautiful voice for which she became known.  While at Loyola University, she was considered one of Loyola’s most gifted young operatic performers (a group that included Norman Treigle, Charles Anthony Caruso, Rosemary Rotolo and Harry Theyard).  Audrey won numerous vocal competitions while under the tutelage of Dorothy Hulse.  She debuted with the New Orleans Opera House Association (NOOA) in 1950 as Oscar in Verdi’s Un Ballo in Maschera.  This launched a career which would find Audrey singing leading roles with such notable stars as Giuseppe Di Stefano, Birgit Nilsson, Dame Elizabeth Schwarzkopf and Placido Domingo, just to name a few.  Her vibrant career would have Audrey performing for the opera companies in many of the major cities of the United States and in Europe.

Audrey married Kerry P. Redmann on Valentine’s Day, February 14, 1953, and the pair set out to build a family.  Following a successful European Tour in 1960, she chose to devote more time to her family and so based her career from home.  She continued to share her extraordinary voice as a soprano soloist with the New Orleans Summer Pops, with NORD, with the New Orleans Philharmonic, with the Tulane Summer Lyric Theater and with various churches and synagogues in the New Orleans area.  Her farewell to the stage occurred in 1977 when she performed in the role of Micaela in Bizet’s Carmen for the NOOA.  She did, however, return to the Metropolitan Opera to witness her youngest son’s (Kirk’s) debut as a tenor.  She also maintained life-long friendships with many of her musical colleagues from Loyola and especially with Les Girls!

Audrey is preceded in death by her biggest fan, strongest supporter and husband, Kerry P. Redmann, and her parents, Thelma K. and Harrison L. “Ducky” Weaver.  She is survived by her children, Kerry P. Redmann, Jr. (Karen), Kathleen Redmann Willis (Matt), Kristopher M. Redmann (Grace) and Kirk A. Redmann, nine grandchildren, Kerry III (Mary), Heather Penden (Fredrik), Rachel Donham (Carson), Daniel (Rene), Kevin (Morgan), Clare, Dylan (Miriam), Emilie and Olivia, eight great grandchildren (soon to be nine) and thirty-six nieces and nephews!

Friends and family are invited to attend a Mass of Christian Burial to be celebrated at 11am on Saturday, November 4, 2023, at St. Pius Xth Church, 6666 Spanish Fort Boulevard in New Orleans, with visitation to begin at 10am.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to either the Audrey Schuh Redmann Operatic Fund at the Loyola College of Music and Media (http://loyno.edu/tributegift) or the Ursuline Sisters, 2705 State Street, New Orleans, LA  70118.

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