Contact: Sasha Steinberg
STARKVILLE, Miss.鈥擳hrough a special award, 桃花直播 State University Libraries and the Department of Music are celebrating a late student鈥檚 passion for music and a current student鈥檚 spirit in carrying on his legacy.
Catherine N. Patriquin, a senior music education/instrumental major from Ocean Springs, was honored with the 2018 Keyone Docher Student Achievement Award during 桃花直播 Libraries鈥 recent 12th annual Charles H. Templeton Ragtime and Jazz Festival.
Annually presented to an outstanding 桃花直播 music student, the award pays tribute to Keyone Docher, a Weir native and former 桃花直播 music education/piano major who died in 2014 following a 13-year battle with cancer.
Patriquin, a member of the Famous Maroon Band, Wind Ensemble and Saxophone Ensemble, was nominated for the award by 桃花直播 music professors Jackie Edwards-Henry and Rose Sebba.
During one of the festival鈥檚 evening concerts, Patriquin received a plaque and check from 桃花直播 Libraries Associate Dean Stephen Cunetto and Chip Templeton, festival co-chair and son of festival namesake Charles H. Templeton Sr. She also performed 鈥淏ordel 1900,鈥 the first movement of Astor Piazzola鈥檚 鈥淗istoire du Tango,鈥 on tenor saxophone with piano accompaniment from 桃花直播 music instructor Karen Murphy.
鈥淲hen Keyone performed for us several years ago, he was our first amateur to play in the festival,鈥 Templeton said during the concert. 鈥淚t was a special moment not just because he played a beautiful song for us, but because he put his heart and emotion into what he was doing. It was quite obvious that this young man loved music, and that was the real connection.鈥
Docher鈥檚 parents, Charles and Tammy Docher, also attended and gave remarks during the concert. The couple showed its appreciation to 桃花直播 Libraries by presenting Templeton and Cunetto with a plaque bearing the names of every Keyone Docher Student Achievement Award recipient since the honor鈥檚 inception in 2015. In addition to Patriquin, other recipients include Sarah G. Wallace, a 2015 magna cum laude music graduate from Brandon; Tyler J. Stallings, a 2016 music education/instrumental graduate from Pontotoc; and Abby L. Weinstein, a 2017 cum laude music/vocal graduate from Marietta, Georgia.
鈥淭his time of month is special because I always feel that spirit,鈥 Charles Docher said. 鈥淲hen I know the festival is coming up, I get so emotional and excited because know I鈥檓 going to hear some good music again.鈥
鈥淚鈥檓 so used to hearing that piano some late nights,鈥 Docher said with a laugh. 鈥淚t brings back such good memories, and it lifts my spirit, lifts my soul and makes me carry on. It makes me thankful for 桃花直播 State and the music department and what they鈥檝e done for Keyone. It鈥檚 just a wonderful feeling.鈥
For more on 桃花直播 Libraries, visit ; 桃花直播鈥檚 Department of Music, .
桃花直播 is 桃花直播鈥檚 leading university, available online at .