Clarinetist

Make American History Great Again? Endangered Dreams is the title that the African American composer Jalalu-Kalvert Nelson, who lives in Biel, has given his new ensemble piece. He says he is responding to “the present situation in America, where there is a battle of American identity and history taking place right now. There are factions in America who want to re-write American history and to delete the unpleasant parts of that history — and to sanitize the American Dream of its blemishes. Which means essentially to turn this dream into a one-sided lie.” Just how multifaceted America sounds becomes clear in the rest of the program: Steve Reich, one of the pioneers of Minimalism, fuses two marimbas and two vibraphones into an ecstatically pulsing rhythm machine in his Mallet Quartet. Elliott Carter’s music, by contrast, is deeply rooted in both American and European modernism.

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Ensemble of the Lucerne Festival Contemporary Orchestra (LFCO) | Participants in the Contemporary-Conducting Program | Doreen Ketchens

KKL Luzern Concert Hall

“Ms New Orleans,” “Lady Louis,” “Queen Clarinet”: these are just some of Doreen Ketchens’s nicknames. In Lucerne, the American clarinetist joins young musicians of the Lucerne Festival Contemporary Orchestra (LFCO). Through workshops and shared performances, they immerse themselves in New Orleans’s rich musical heritage to develop a program over the course of a week – a “work in progress” shaped by exchange between the Old and New Worlds.

“Reflecting the Streets of New Orleans”

Kapellplatz

Embrace the rhythm at the Indiana Wind Symphony’s concert, “Mardi Gras Masquerade Ball.” This event pays tribute to the Mardi Gras celebration in the U.S. and parallels the Carnival festivities in South America. Attendees will be transported to vibrant cities like New Orleans, Rio de Janeiro, and Barranquilla! The program will showcase music from “The Big Easy” and selections from two of South America's most popular Carnival celebrations. This concert will also feature guest soloist Doreen Ketchens, known as the “female Louis Armstrong” for her passionate performing style in Gospel, Blues, Jazz and more.

Mardi Gras Masquerade Ball

Allied Solutions Center for the Performing Arts

New Orleans legend and worldwide sensation Doreen Ketchens brings her inimitable musical style back to Merchant Hall. Accompanied by the full orchestra, the talented jazz clarinetist swings out to holiday classics in her exclusive Dixieland style. Don’t miss this unforgettable start to the holiday season. The concert concludes with a beloved family tradition—the MSO's colorful Holiday Music and Light Show Spectacular!

Holiday in New Orleans With Doreen Ketchens, clarinet

Hylton Performing Arts Center

New Orleans legend and worldwide sensation Doreen Ketchens brings her inimitable style back to Manassas, once again accompanied by the full orchestra. This time, Doreen is swinging Merchant Hall with holiday classics in her exclusive Dixieland style. Don’t miss this unforgettable start to the holiday season!

Holiday in New Orleans

The Clarinet Queen of New Orleans: Dr. Doreen J. Ketchens! You’ve seen her on Instagram, now see her live in concert with the Western Piedmont Symphony!

Masterworks: Symphony Swings

Lenoir-Rhyne University

Joined by guest faculty soloist Kendra Wheeler and guest artist Doreen Ketchens, the LSU Wind ensemble presents its final concert of the fall semester—“Panoramas”. The first half of this concert includes Assistant Professor of Saxophone Kendra Wheeler performing Tolga Zafer’s Karapathia. The second half of this concert begins with Warren Benson’s The Passing Bell. Concluding the concert, New Orleans Clarinetist Doreen Ketchens will join us as featured soloist on Frank Ticheli’s musical panorama “Playing with Fire”.

LSU Wind Ensemble

Louisiana State University

Mon cher! The MSO is excited to present the Clarinet Queen of New Orleans, Doreen Ketchens for an exclusive performance of Dixieland favorites in her unique and inimitable style, accompanied by the full orchestra. This performance by one of the greatest jazz clarinetists of all time is sure to be a memorable experience. The first half of the program includes Ferde Grofé’s symphonic homage to New Orleans, Mississippi Suite.

Laissez Les Bons Temps Roulez!

The concert features instrumental soloists Doreen Ketchens, a jazz clarinetist from New Orleans, and MSU percussionist Gwendolyn Dease. The program includes Fanfare by Arthur Wang, Concerto for Percussion and Wind Ensemble by Paul Lansky, Manifestos by Paul Dooley, What a Wonderful World (arr. Terry Lewis) by George David Weiss, and When the Saints Go Marching In (arr. Drew Dickey) by James M. Black. Kevin L. Sedatole, conductor.

Wind Symphony

Wharton Center for Performing Arts

Stunning selections from two of America’s most gifted composers, plus a show-stopping performance by New Orleans jazz sensation Doreen Ketchens.

Dallas Winds | House of the Rising Sun

Meyerson Symphony Center

The core mission of Han & Heung Festival is to explore the stories of resilience and optimism through the presentation of thought-provoking concert program, followed by a panel discussion that promotes awareness, reflection, and dialogue.

Clarinetist

Doreen Ketchens

Events

Past events

Aug 30, 2026

Ensemble of the Lucerne Festival Contemporary Orchestra (LFCO) | Participants in the Contemporary-Conducting Program | Doreen Ketchens · Lucerne Festival

Aug 26, 2026

“Reflecting the Streets of New Orleans” · Lucerne Festival

Future and recently performed repertoire

Clarinet in Soul Force by Montgomery

Western Piedmont Symphony

Clarinet in Black, Brown, and Beige by Ellington

Western Piedmont Symphony

Clarinet in On the Town: Three Dance Episodes by Bernstein

Western Piedmont Symphony

Clarinet in Mallet Quartet by Reich

Lucerne Festival

Clarinet in Abracadabra (Suncatchers) for 11 virtuosi by Thomas

Lucerne Festival

About

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