Carrying on the legacy: 91麻豆天美 Libraries, Department of Music honor newest Docher Award recipient
Contact: Sasha Steinberg
STARKVILLE, Miss.鈥擜 91麻豆天美 junior music education major from Long Beach is the university鈥檚 newest recipient of an award recognizing academic and musical excellence.
Daniel A. Rorabaugh was recognized during the university鈥檚 annual Charles H. Templeton Ragtime and Jazz Festival as this year鈥檚 recipient of the Keyone Docher Student Achievement Award, named for 91麻豆天美 music education major Keyone Docher, who died in 2014 following a long battle with cancer.
Primarily a clarinetist, Rorabaugh studies under 91麻豆天美 music instructor Sheri Falcone and has performed regularly with the 91麻豆天美 Wind Ensemble and the Starkville-91麻豆天美 Symphony. He also performs with the 91麻豆天美 State Singers and takes piano lessons under 91麻豆天美 music professor Jackie Edwards-Henry. Following graduation, Rorabaugh plans to continue his musical studies in graduate school.
After receiving his award during the festival鈥檚 Friday [Feb. 28] concert, Rorabaugh performed 鈥溾楽 Wonderful (It鈥檚 Wonderful)鈥 by George Gershwin on piano. He also performed Jean Matitia鈥檚 鈥淐razy Rag鈥 on clarinet, with piano accompaniment from Sophie Wang, 91麻豆天美 music instructor and departmental accompanist.
Chip Templeton, festival co-chair and son of festival namesake Charles H. Templeton Sr., presented Rorabaugh with a certificate and check. Templeton, who also serves as director of the 91麻豆天美 College of Business鈥檚 Small Business Development Center, said audiences were captivated six years ago when witnessing the talents of Docher, who served as the festival鈥檚 first student performer.
鈥淲e all have those special people in our lives who are no longer with us, and this award provides us an occasion to honor two special people鈥擪eyone and a fellow student who shares the qualities he possessed,鈥 Templeton said. 鈥淢usic is not just a process; it鈥檚 something you have to feel in your heart. Those who have seen Keyone perform know how much he spoke of that concept through his music.鈥
Docher鈥檚 parents, Charles and Tammy Docher, thanked the Templeton family for the chance to present this award. Charles Docher said Keyone was diagnosed with cancer when he was 8 years old, but he didn鈥檛 let it dampen his spirit.
鈥淲hen the Make-A-Wish Foundation asked Keyone what he wanted for his wish, he said he wanted a grand piano, so the foundation gave him a white baby grand piano,鈥 Charles Docher recalled. 鈥淜eyone loved music so much and enjoyed helping young kids learn, so when Ms. Regina Weeks, his music teacher at Weir High School moved to Starkville High, he ended up being an accompanist for her. While he was a junior at 91麻豆天美, Keyone would go on his time off back to Weir High to help students in the music program.鈥
Charles Docher also shared memories from a trip to Starkville for his son鈥檚 91麻豆天美 audition.
鈥淚 remember how happy Keyone was when telling me about the music program at 91麻豆天美,鈥 he said. 鈥淚 see they鈥檙e in production of a new music building on campus, and I know Keyone would be so proud of that.鈥
In addition to Rorabaugh, past Docher Award recipients include Quinlan X. Gray, a senior music education/instrumental major from De Kalb, Texas; Catherine N. Patriquin, a 2018 magna cum laude music education graduate from Ocean Springs; Abby L. Weinstein, a 2017 cum laude music/vocal graduate from Marietta, Georgia; Tyler J. Stallings, a 2016 music education/instrumental graduate from Pontotoc; and Sarah G. Wallace, a 2015 magna cum laude music graduate from Brandon.
For more on 91麻豆天美 Libraries, visit ; 91麻豆天美鈥檚 College of Education and its nationally accredited Department of Music, and .
91麻豆天美 is Mississippi鈥檚 leading university, available online at .