Public performances, meet-and-greet to be held during four-day residency
Doreen Ketchens
The University of Central Arkansas will host internationally celebrated jazz clarinetist Doreen Ketchens for a four-day residency Thursday, Oct. 1, through Sunday, Oct. 4, with events showcasing her mastery of Dixieland and traditional jazz and her work as a performer and educator.
“We are so fortunate to have the opportunity to host the ‘Queen of Clarinet’ — Ms. Doreen Ketchens,” Dominic Talanca, associate professor and director of bands, Department of Music, said. “Don’t miss your chance to experience a performance by the UCA Wind Ensemble featuring this American icon who has made her mark in music, television and film.”
Ketchens’ residency will feature a series of student-focused events, including a session with the Studio Jazz Ensemble, a clarinet master class and an open rehearsal with the UCA Wind Ensemble. The residency will also include a public performance and meet-and-greet in downtown Conway, as well as a public concert featuring Ketchens as guest soloist with the UCA Wind Ensemble. All events are located on or near the UCA campus, open to the public and free of charge.
The full schedule for Ketchens’ residency is as follows:
- Thursday, Oct. 1, 12:15 p.m. – Student Event: Session with Studio Jazz Ensemble, Recital Hall, Snow Fine Arts Center.
- Friday, Oct. 2, 11 a.m. – Student Event: Clarinet Master Class, Concert Hall, Windgate Center for Fine and Performing Arts.
- Friday, Oct. 2, 2:30 p.m. – Student Event: Open Rehearsal with Wind Ensemble, Concert Hall, Windgate Center for Fine and Performing Arts.
- Friday, Oct. 2, 5:45 p.m. – Public Event: Performance and Meet-and-Greet, “Neighbors, An Art Show,” The Brick Room, 1020 Front St., Conway. This event is presented in collaboration with Engage Management’s annual community art exhibition and Create Conway’s October Art Walk.
- Sunday, Oct. 4, 5 p.m. – Public Event: UCA Wind Ensemble in Concert Featuring Guest Soloist Doreen Ketchens, Concert Hall, Windgate Center for Fine and Performing Arts, 2150 Bruce Street. While this is a free event, reservations are required. Tickets are available at uca.edu/go/doreenketchens.
Born in New Orleans’ historic Tremé neighborhood, Doreen Ketchens is an internationally celebrated jazz clarinetist renowned for her mastery of Dixieland, or traditional jazz, with a vibrant style that emerged in the early 20th century. She has often been called “Lady Louie,” “Miss Satchmo” and “The Female Louis Armstrong,” and Ketchens channels Armstrong’s virtuosity, charisma and exuberant stage presence while forging a musical voice entirely her own.
Her performances combine extraordinary technical skill, emotional depth and infectious energy. Equally at home in gospel, blues, R&B, classical music and jazz, Ketchens brings remarkable versatility to the clarinet. Her work has appeared in HBO’s “Treme,” Comedy Central’s “Drunk History,” Tyler Perry’s “Temptation: Confessions of a Marriage Counselor,” “Jimmy Kimmel Live!”, and “CBS News Sunday Morning.” A recent Instagram video of Ketchens performing “You Are My Sunshine” for her grandchildren received more than 18 million views.
More information about the residency is available by contacting Talanca at dtalanca@uca.edu.
The UCA Artists in Residence program is funded by the Fine and Performing Arts Fee paid by all students, with additional support from Engage Management and Pyramid Art, Books, and Custom Framing. More information about the Artists in Residence program is available at uca.edu/go/artistsinresidence or by contacting Dr. Gayle Seymour, associate dean of the College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences, at gayles@uca.edu.