The Orchestra was founded in 1881 by a young Bostonian. Henry Lee Higginson, whose aim was to create a first-class "permanent" orchestra that could devote itself entirely to performances of symphonic music. He engaged the best musicians available in Europe and the U.S.A. for its personnel; one of the orchestra's first conductors was the famous Arthur Nikisch. Higginson supported the orchestra financially until 1918, when he handed the management over to a Board of Trustees.

Dr. Charles Munch.