New Film Examines Trailblazing Bassist Orin O’Brien

Orchestral trailblazer Orin O’Brien is the subject of an upcoming documentary called The Only Girl In The Orchestra. The 34-minute film will be screened during the DOC NYC Festival on November 9th and 15th with online screenings available from November 8th to the 26th.

O’Brien’s long and illustrious career is notable for several reasons, but she made history in 1966 when Leonard Bernstein appointed her to the New York Philharmonic. She was the first woman to join the orchestra and stayed in its ranks for 55 years, only recently retiring in 2021. She was on faculty at the Manhattan School of Music since 1969 and co-chaired the double bass department at Juilliard from 1992 to 2002.

“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,” the film’s website states. “In the delightful short documentary, THE ONLY GIRL IN THE ORCHESTRA, filmmaker Molly O’Brien beautifully captures her aunt Orin’s prodigious contributions as a musician as well as her unique philosophy that the key to enjoying life is to play second fiddle.”

Visit the film’s website for full details. Until then, you can learn more about O’Brien in this interview with Contrabass Conversations with Jason Heath: