August 9, 2025
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The first woman in the Philharmonic

The first woman in the Philharmonic

Netflix has begun streaming a short documentary on the double-bassist Orin O’Brien, who became the first female member of the New York Philharmonic in 1966 under Leonard Bernstein. There were no dressing rooms for women. there had previously been one harpist).

The Only Girl In The Orchestra is directed by Orin’s niece, Molly O’Brien.

Orin, who turns 90 next year, is still teaching at Manhattan School of Music and Mannes. Until 2002, she was co-chair of the double-bass faculty at Juilliard. She retired from the Philharmonic, after 55 years, in 2021.

The post The first woman in the Philharmonic appeared first on Slippedisc.

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