New York Philharmonic

Founded in 1842 as the Philharmonic Society of New York, the New York Philharmonic is the oldest symphony orchestra in the United States. Originally established as a musician-operated cooperative, the orchestra underwent significant organizational changes throughout its history, including a transition to corporate management in 1909 and mergers with New York's National Symphony Orchestra (1921) and the New York Symphony Orchestra Society (1928).

The orchestra has been led by many distinguished conductors, including Gustav Mahler, Arturo Toscanini, Bruno Walter, Leonard Bernstein, Pierre Boulez, Zubin Mehta, Kurt Masur, Lorin Maazel, and Alan Gilbert (2). In 1957, the orchestra adopted its current name and Leonard Bernstein became its conductor, beginning a transformative era for the ensemble.

The New York Philharmonic relocated to Carnegie Hall before moving to Avery Fisher Hall at Lincoln Center in 1962, now known as David Geffen Hall. Today, it remains one of the world's most prominent orchestras, maintaining a rich legacy of classical music performance and innovation.