The Only Girl in the Orchestra

2023 35 min ★ 6.6 Documentary, Music

Trailblazing double bassist Orin O'Brien never wanted the spotlight, but when Leonard Bernstein hired her in 1966 as the first female musician in the New York Philarmonic, it was inevitable that she would become the focus of much interest and fascination. Now 87 years old and recently retired, Orin looks back on her remarkable life and career, insisting that a fuss should not be made, much preferring to play a supporting role to the family, students, friends, and colleagues that surround her.

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Cast

Orin O'Brien

Self

Molly O'Brien

Self / Narrator

George O'Brien

Self (archive footage) (uncredited)

Marguerite Churchill

Self (archive footage) (uncredited)

Leonard Bernstein

Self (archive footage) (uncredited)

Details

Director

Molly O'Brien

Status

Released

Original Language

EN

Production

New York Philharmonic, Mobworks, LFR INDUSTRIES

Reviews

C

CinemaSerf

August 4, 2026

★ 6/10

Born of Hollywood Silver Screen stock - George O'Brien and Marguerite Churchill, Orin O'Brien studies ballet as a child before taking up the double bass and trailblazing for her sex to become the first woman to play for the New York Philharmonic Orchestra. Of course there isn't a great deal of archive of her actual performances and so we are left to survive on a sparing collection of photographs a...