Nancy Donaruma's life dream to be a member of the New York Philharmonic began at age eight and while her days at the New York Philharmonic may be over, she's not about to kick back on a rocking chair on the front porch anytime soon.

As NY1 Arts reporter Stephanie Simon tells us, she's about to answer another calling.

For many, the sounds of Mahler and Strauss, played by the New York Philharmonic, are some of the most soothing and healing sounds one can encounter.

But for those who encounter cellist Nancy Donaruma, the cacophony of sirens is also music to the ears. That's because Danaruma doubles as an EMT.

“As a paramedic, I've been able to do a couple shifts a month,” says Donaruma. “It's very sporadic because we have a heavy schedule at the philharmonic, but after I'm retired I'll be able to do two shifts a week and I'll be working up in Poughkeepsie.”

True to her word that's where we found her this past Fourth of July in the early hours of a 12-hour tour.

“The immediacy of what you have to do is very similar to being on a stage and performing,” says Donaruma. “You have to be ready and you have to make quick decisions. So as far as doing things quickly, I feel that working as a medic and working as a musician can be very similar.”

The Oklahoma native is retiring from the philharmonic after just over 30 years.

The Orchestra said goodbye to Donaruma and a handful of her colleagues at a retirees tribute concert and party in June.

“I think in a way when you provide music for people you're sort of taking care of their spiritual needs in a way,” says Donaruma. “So taking care of people on the ambulance is certainly a similar kind of thing. I really like taking care of people.”

On more than one occasion, those two passions have crossed paths at Lincoln Center as and Donaruma had to shift from musician to paramedic.

“We’ve had a couple of people who've been ill and I've been able to help them a little — not a whole lot but they've appreciated what I did at the time,” says Donaruma.

Donaruma is one of several philharmonic members retiring this year, but she is the only woman. In fact, she is the very first woman to ever retire from the philharmonic in its 165-year history.

“Somebody had to start it!” she says. “Thirty years is kind of a drop in the bucket around here, because people tend to stay for 40 or 50 years, but like I said being a multi-interest person, you know, I think thirty is good. I was next door at the opera for four years and the Kennedy Center for two years so It's time to move on to my other stuff.”

— Stephanie Simon