In the context of classical music in the United States, the Big Five refers to five symphony orchestras that were considered to be the most prominent and accomplished ensembles when the term gained widespread use by music critics in the late 1950s. The "Big Five", in the order of their founding, are:

• New York Philharmonic (1842)
• Boston Symphony Orchestra (1881)
• Chicago Symphony Orchestra (1891)
• Philadelphia Orchestra (1900)
• Cleveland Orchestra (1918)

The term "Big Five" is today considered by many to be outdated. In stead, a variety of music critics, at both the local and national level, have written thoughtful and passionate articles proposing new members to the upper echelon of American orchestras as new "Big Ten". IMHO, San Francisco SO under MTT certainly deserves a place in any contemporary list of any "Big Five.".

• New York Philharmonic (1842)
• Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra (1880)
• Boston Symphony Orchestra (1881)
• Chicago Symphony Orchestra (1891)
• Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra (1896)
• Philadelphia Orchestra (1900)
• Minnesota Orchestra (1903)
• San Francisco Symphony Orchestra (1911)
• Cleveland Orchestra (1918)
• Los Angeles Philharmonic (1919)