Orin O'Brien, First Woman Hired for NY Phil, Profiled in Oscar-Nominated Short

All Of It with Alison Stewart | Feb 24, 2025

The documentary, "The Only Girl in the Orchestra," is nominated for an Academy Award this year for Documentary Short Film. It tells the story of double bassist Orin O'Brien, the first female musician hired to play in the New York Philharmonic. O’Brien retired from the Philharmonic in 2021, after she was first hired by conductor Leonard Bernstein in 1966. Director Molly O'Brien (who is Orin's niece), discusses her aunt's story and the short film, streaming now on Netflix.

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