New York Philharmonic
The orchestra started in 1842.  At that time it was called the Philharmonic Society.  At its first concert the orchestra played a very long programme which included  Beethoven’s Symphony No. 5 conducted by Ureli Corelli Hill.  The musicians worked as a cooperative or "communistic" society.  This meant that the musicians themselves made up the rules about how the orchestra should be run: who would become a member, which music would be performed, and who would conduct. At the end of each season they divided any money the orchestra had earned amongst themselves.