Ever since the New York Philharmonic was founded in 1842, the orchestra’s brass section — horn, trumpet, trombone, bass trombone, tuba — had been a man’s world. Then Amanda Davidson auditioned. A graduate of the Juilliard School with a passion for Mahler, Brahms and ESPN, Mrs. Davidson, 28, became the brass section’s first female member last September, having previously been principal trombonist of the San Antonio Symphony. (She competed for the Philharmonic job with Mark Davidson, 27, whom she was dating and later married.) Her title is associate principal trombone, an instrument with which she is familiar. She has been playing it since she was 6.
Too cool, eh? (And yeah, she’s really a woman and I know some cringe at the word “girl” although I will remain a girl my whole life, thank you very much. (“Woman” sounds … um … serious. And large.)
