Doris McCain Loder Gives to Future PYP String Players

Posted on February 13, 2019

Doris McCain joined the Portland Junior Symphony in the fall of 1942 when she was a 7th grader in Oregon City. She rose in the ranks and eventually shared the first stand second violins with Jane Bugbee for two seasons, PJS’s 22nd and 23rd. Dory, as she is known, is an accomplished violinist and violist. She had the good fortune to be born with innate ability, but as she said to her students over her 30-year career teaching strings in the Philadelphia Public Schools, “luck helps a lot…if you’re ready!”

Doris went to Willamette University on a full music scholarship and played professionally until age 80, when she retired from the Delaware Symphony, one of many she played with over 30 years—after raising four children! Wanting to give the opportunities she had had to other young musicians, she chose to endow PYP’s Principal Second Violin chair, which provides an annual full tuition scholarship to the winner of that position. Her generous gift will also provide a second tuition scholarship for a young woman string player needing financial assistance. With this gift to PYP, Dory will be encouraging young musicians in perpetuity and they will have a direct connection to the early years of their orchestra through her generosity.

Dory has often expressed profound gratitude for her wonderful life. She counsels young musicians to keep practicing (“especially after dinner, while Mom or Dad listen and you can avoid doing the dishes”), and hopes that her gift to PYP will create opportunities for other promising young musicians for years to come—“if they’re ready!” Thank you, Dory, for your kindness and commitment to PYP’s present and future musicians.

For information about planned giving options to benefit PYP, please contact Kristan Knapp, Development and Alumni Relations Manager. Kristan@portlandyouthphil.org or call the office 503-223-5939. We can help you create your own legacy.

Doris (Dory) McCain Loder - - Oregon City H.S., 1948, Willamette University, 1952

Dory is an accomplished violinist and violist. She had the good fortune to be born with innate ability, but as she said to her students over her 30 year career teaching strings in the Philadelphia Public Schools, “luck helps a lot . . . if you’re ready!”

Enormously talented, Dory began playing violin with the Portland Youth Symphony in 1942 through 1947. In grade school, she played in the Oregon City High School orchestra; in high school, with the Reed College orchestra, and while studying at Willamette University (on a full music scholarship!), Class of ’52, played in both the Willamette orchestra and with the faculty quartet.  Dory continued to play professionally until age 80, when she retired from the Delaware Symphony Orchestra, one of many symphonies in 30 years - - after raising 4 kids.

Mid-career, Dory elected to study viola with Leonard Mogil of the Philadelphia Orchestra to help land more jobs, saying “now I play both, but not at the same time.” Her love of music, her versatility, her dedication to honing her talent, and her abundant zest for life has resulted in a lifetime of extraordinary opportunities, of which she took full advantage.

Orchestra tours included goodwill trips around the world to places like the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Budapest, Portugal, Germany, Greece, even to China. Other highlights for Dory included fun performances for the Philly Pops Orchestra and the PDQ Bach appearances at the Kimmel Center.  She performed for the Clinton Inaugural Balls (both times), as a member of Lester Lanin’s Orchestra. Over many years of countless gigs, she accompanied Sammy Davis Jr., Tony Bennett, Dionne Warwick, Diana Ross, Dick Van Dyke, Barbara Mandrell and many others. She even stood elbow to elbow with Luciano Pavarotti while playing the accordion before a sold-out audience at the Baltimore Civic Center with the Philadelphia Orchestra!

Reflecting back on her life with her four children (Mark, David, Karen and Tom), Dory has often expressed profound gratitude for a wonderful life.  She counsels young musicians to keep practicing (“especially after dinner, while Mom or Dad listen and you can avoid doing dishes”), and hopes that her gift to the Portland Youth Philharmonic will create opportunities for other promising young musicians for years to come—“if they’re ready!”