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The New York Philharmonic extends a heartfelt congratulations to former NY Phil bassist Orin O’Brien and the entire team behind The Only Girl in the Orchestra on their win in the Best Documentary Short Film category at the 97th Academy Awards on Sunday.

When she was hired to join the NY Phil in 1966, by then Music Director Leonard Bernstein, Orin O’Brien became the Orchestra’s only female member. She would go on to serve in the bass section for some 55 years, bringing to the stage her brilliant and deeply felt musicianship day in and day out, before retiring in 2021.

Directed by Molly O’Brien (Orin’s niece, who also produced the film alongside her partner, Lisa Remington), The Only Girl in the Orchestra traces Orin’s story through interviews and archival footage, from her Hollywood upbringing as the daughter of film actors George O’Brien and Marguerite Churchill to the challenges she faced as the only woman in the 104-member ensemble. Those challenges ranged from the personal to the practical — for instance, when she first joined the NY Phil there was no designated dressing area for women.

For her part, however, Orin never felt particularly comfortable with the spotlight attending her unique place in history. NY Phil President & CEO Matías Tarnopolsky — who praised Orin as a “warm, insightful, and delightful human being” — echoed her sentiment: “Ask her about Bernstein, teachers who played before her, students who joined during her tenure, or even Orin’s Hollywood silent-film-star parents, and she would regale you with glowing stories. But ask about being the only woman to join the Philharmonic in the modern era, and she’d brush it off.”

Whichever way you look at it, the story of Orin O’Brien — a brilliant musician, an Orchestra stalwart of more than a half-century, and an indelible presence in the history of the New York Philharmonic — is now, happily, the world’s to hear.

The Only Girl in the Orchestra is currently streaming on Netflix.

On Tuesday, February 11, the New York Philharmonic’s annual Lunar New Year Concert and Gala welcomed the Year of the Snake in a celebration of cultural heritage, new beginnings, and music’s capacity to transcend borders. Distinguished guests and friends of the Orchestra gathered in David Geffen Hall for the festive evening, for which Starr International Foundation was the Presenting Sponsor and Lexus was the Event Sponsor. The honoree was philanthropist Angela Chen, an NY Phil Board Member and Co-Chair of the International Advisory Board.

The Gala — which raised a record-breaking $2 million for the Philharmonic — centered on a concert in which Tianyi Lu, in her NY Phil debut, conducted the Orchestra in an eclectic program of Asian and Western orchestral music, with works by Li Huanzhi, Unsuk Chin, Casella, and Bizet. Violinist Inmo Yang also made his NY Phil debut as the soloist in Chen Yi’s Chinese Folk Dance Suite. Guests and artists enjoyed a celebratory post-concert dinner on the Leon and Norma Hess Grand Promenade, capping off another successful Lunar New Year Gala.

Check out the slideshow above for some highlights from the evening!

Photo by Jeff Fusco

The New York Philharmonic just announced its next President and CEO — Matías Tarnopolsky, the veteran arts leader who will take the helm on January 1, 2025.  

“Matías Tarnopolsky is a singular figure among orchestral leaders,” said NY Phil Co-Chairmen Peter W. May and Oscar L. Tang of the announcement. “Building on his lifelong love for our art form, he has forged impactful collaborations with orchestral musicians and dynamic artistic leaders. He is also a force for innovation who has created new ways of connecting with communities and tapping into emerging technologies.” 

Who better to help set the stage for the arrival of Gustavo Dudamel, the renowned conductor who will become Music and Artistic Director in September 2026, following a season as Music Director Designate. Dudamel — who has worked with Tarnopolsky in Chicago, New York, and Berkeley — said: “Matías combines a deeply felt love of music with an unwavering commitment to building the best possible future for our art form. With his leadership, I am confident that we will bring to life our extraordinary, shared vision for the New York Philharmonic. … I have also discovered that he is someone who understands me innately, both as a musician and as a human. We have a special chemistry, and I know he is the perfect choice for this position.”  

The appointment marks a homecoming for Tarnopolsky, who served as the Philharmonic’s Vice President of Artistic Planning from 2005 to 2009. In 2018 he became chief executive of The Philadelphia Orchestra, where he oversaw several notable milestones, including the merger with the Kimmel Center in 2021, the rededication of the home of The Philadelphia Orchestra as Marian Anderson Hall, significant gains in fundraising, and an unprecedented expansion of the endowment. This followed his tenure at the helm of Cal Performances at the University of California, Berkeley, and top artistic posts at the Chicago and BBC Symphony Orchestras.  

Through it all, Tarnopolsky has maintained his forward-thinking philosophy of what a modern orchestra can be, believing that a diversity of programming and a continuous renewal of the art form are crucial for sustained success. And he has prioritized the human relationships and collaborations that are always at the center of any successful arts organization.  

Coming on the heels of the reopening of David Geffen Hall in October 2022, and the announcement of Dudamel as the Orchestra’s next artistic leader, the appointment of Matías Tarnopolsky as President and CEO marks another giant step forward for the New York Philharmonic as it anticipates a new era of excellence, inspiration, and impact.  

As for what that new era might look like? Tarnopolsky sums it up: “We will rededicate ourselves to the New York Philharmonic’s contemporary place in the cultural and civic life of New York, for all New Yorkers, to create an inclusive, expansive, and joyful musical future.”