Classical Music News

“The Only Girl in the Orchestra” Awarded Best Documentary Short Film Oscar

March 3, 2025

2 MIN READ

The short documentary honors the life and legacy of double bassist Orin O'Brien, the first woman to play full-time in the New York Philharmonic

Netflix's short documentary titled “The Only Girl in the Orchestra,” which delves into the legacy of the American double bassist Orin O’Brien won the Oscar for "Best Documentary Short Film." Orin's niece, producer Molly O'Brien and producer Lisa Remington accepted the award.

The other nominees in the category were “Death by Numbers,” “I Am Ready, Warden,” “Incident,” and “Instruments of a Beating Heart.”

Now aged 87 and recently retired, O’Brien became the first woman to join the 104-piece New York Philharmonic full-time in 1966. In the film, O’Brien reflects on her appointment to the orchestra by Leonard Bernstein, and her preference for being a supporting role to her family, students, friends, and colleagues.

Made by the Emmy award-winning documentary producer and director and Orin’s niece, Molly O’Brien, “The Only Girl in the Orchestra” ultimately captures O’Brien’s significant contributions to classical music and the doors she helped open for the many female musicians.

To watch the film, click here.

The movie trailer can be viewed below.

Born in Hollywood to actor parents, O’Brien studied with Milton Kestenbaum, who was principal bass of the Pittsburgh Symphony, and with Herman Reinshagen, who was associate principal of the NY Phil and a double bass teacher at the Institute of Musical Art (now The Juilliard School).

In New York, she continued her studies with Frederick Zimmermann and graduated as a scholarship student from Juilliard. From 1956 to 1966, she was a member of the NYC Ballet Orchestra.

During this time, she also performed in the American Symphony Orchestra, Metropolitan Opera Orchestra, Musica Aeterna, and many other ensembles.

Additionally, she played in numerous chamber music festivals, including the Marlboro Music Festival recordings with Pablo Casals. Her chamber music performances have included the quintets of Schubert and Dvořák with the Guarneri Quartet.

As an educator, O’Brien has given masterclasses at the Peabody Institute, Tanglewood Festival, New England Conservatory, and Yale University, plus has been on the faculty of the Manhattan School of Music (MSM) since 1969.

She also teaches at the Mannes College of Music and The Juilliard School, where she was co-chair of the double bass department from 1992 to 2002. In 2012, she published Double Bass Notebook, a guidebook for young music professionals.

Among her distinctions include the MSM President’s Medal for Distinguished Faculty Service, and the Special Recognition for Teaching Award from the International Society of Bassists.