15 Facts About Doreen Ketchens

Doreen J Ketchens was born on October 3,1966 and is an American jazz clarinetist who performs Dixieland and trad jazz.

Doreen Ketchens has performed at concert halls, music festivals, and US embassies, as well as in decades of weekly performances in Dixieland's tradition in the Royal Street Performing Arts Zone in the French Quarter of New Orleans with her band, Doreen's Jazz New Orleans.

Doreen Ketchens has been featured in numerous documentaries about New Orleans, its music, and its heritage, and she has been seen on television in shows like HBO's Treme.

Doreen Ketchens studied clarinet in elementary school, beginning as a fifth-grader at Joseph Craig Elementary.

Doreen Ketchens played for John F Kennedy High School in New Orleans, and auditioned and was accepted to NOCCA, Louisiana's Arts Conservatory in New Orleans.

Doreen Ketchens attended Delgado Community College, Loyola University of New Orleans, Southern University In New Orleans, and, through scholarships, including one from the New York Philharmonic, University of Hartford's The Hartt School in Hartford, Connecticut, where she studied under Henry Larsen.

Doreen Ketchens had an internship with the symphony orchestra in Hartford.

Doreen Ketchens worked her way through conservatories and college as a chef, and met her husband, arranger and sousaphonist for Doreen's Jazz New Orleans, Lawrence Ketchens at Loyola.

Doreen Ketchens found her passion in Jazz with Lawrence and the two regularly performed together.

Doreen Ketchens performed her first jazz gig with Lawrence at the 1988 Republican National Convention.

Doreen Ketchens ran a plate lunch eatery called "Doreen's Sweets" for a time until she and Lawrence kept passing musicians working the streets of New Orleans, and she told him that they could make money doing that.

Doreen Ketchens began playing in Jackson Square with her first band, the Jackson Square All-Stars.

Doreen Ketchens has been sharing traditional American Jazz in Africa, Asia, Canada, Europe, South America, Russia and the United States.

Doreen Ketchens' group appears at Jazz Festivals in New Orleans and at music festivals, fairs, and showcases throughout the world.

Doreen Ketchens has been featured in numerous documentaries about New Orleans, its heritage, and its music, including several profiles by WWOZ, New Orleans' Jazz radio station including a video profiles and audio programs, and dozens of articles from major newspapers and magazines around the world.