Family of Docters

After knowing this family since 1990, I still find the talent of the Docters amazing and daunting. Mother Rita is a supremely talented music educator and children's choral director (I've begged her for years to write a book on educating children about music).
I still remember about ten years ago, when sister Kari played the cello for our wedding. It like she was transported to another world when playing Bach. Her husband, Bruno, is a fine violinist, too. They make a remarkable duo when they're not playing in the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra, and a formidible trio when violist Kirsten joins. What should we call this string trio? The Docter Eicher Trio? That's gotta a nice ring. They performed a concert called "A Family Affair" in honor of Dave and Rita's 40th wedding anniversary last Sunday. The trio they performed was Ernst von Dohnanyi's Serenade for violin, viola & cello in C major, Op. 10. A wide-ranging work touching often on Hungarian folk themes, it could be paired well with an early quartet by Bartok or Ligeti.
Pete reins as the star of the family, and why not? As a famous animator and director for Pixar, he attracts media attention whenever he's home. In my eyes, his "lemon drops" were a smash hit at our holiday dinner.
Father Docter is simply a lovely, generous soul. A retired music history professor, he's part of an impressive family that loves to travel and gather for reunions. If there's a common link between the Docters, it would be that their children (and now grandchildren Benjamin, Sebastian, Elizabeth and Nicholas) are at the center of their lives.

Photos: Sleepy Ben with Grandpa Docter and Cousin Elie reading to Ben.