[2] Decades later, between 1914–16, the New York Philharmonic's music director Josef Stránský began leading concerts for young people.

[10] Other conductors were vying for the position, including a young Leonard Bernstein, who had only debuted with the Philharmonic four years prior.

In 1950, American conductor Igor Buketoff was placed at the helm of all the Philharmonic's children's concerts, following his first guest appearance in the role just two years prior.

[4] Leonard Bernstein brought the Young People's Concerts to a new level of popular attention as music director of the New York Philharmonic, beginning in 1958.

[13] Reaching millions of families across the United States and around the world, these concerts inspired entire generations of musicians and music lovers.

[15] Although Bernstein left the position of music director in 1969, he continued to lead the Young People's Concerts as Conductor Emeritus until 1972, concluding in March 1972 with a television series finale devoted to Gustav Holst's The Planets.

55 (Beethoven); Marching song from Bridge Over the River Kwai; I'm All Shook Up (E. Presley); Romeo and Juliet (Tchaikovsky); Rhapsody in Blue (Gershwin); Frère Jacques; Symphony No 2 in D Major, Op.

77 (Brahms) (Bach); Overture to The Marriage of Figaro (Mozart); Symphony No 102 in B-flat Major (Haydn); Egmont Overture (Beethoven) (Mahler); A Musical Joke (Mozart); Polka from the Golden Age (Shostakovich); Burlesque from Music for the Theater (Copland); Symphony No 4 in E Minor, Op.

2 (Ives) Schelomo (Bloch) Two Dances from The Three Cornered Hat (de Falla) Petrouchka (Stravinsky) Fantasy on a Theme from the Opera "Moses in Egypt" by Rossini (Paganini-Reinshagen, transcribed for orchestra by Gary Karr) The Carnival of the Animals (Saint Saens) Symphony No.

67 (Beethoven) Fancy Free (Bernstein); Diesen heil'gen Halle from The Magic Flute (Mozart) Violin Concerto No.

[20] Following Bernstein's final Young People's Concert in 1972, Michael Tilson Thomas regularly led the series (1971–77),[21] in addition to conductors such as Erich Leinsdorf, Pierre Boulez, Igor Buketoff, Zubin Mehta, Aaron Copland, Kurt Masur, Leonard Slatkin, André Previn, Thomas Wilkins, and Jaap van Zweden.

The contemporary concerts are thematically programmed, focusing 21st century issues like climate change, immigration, and social justice.

The performances are complemented by live image and video projections, guest actors, dancers, singers, and community partners, with an interdisciplinary approach that brings elements like science, fantasy, and hip hop into the orchestra.

[24][25] In 2005, the New York Philharmonic revived their "Elementary" series, renamed the Very Young People's Concerts, which is designed for younger children ages 3 to 6.