Answer:
It was founded in 1900 under the direction of Fritz Sheel, who served until 1907. Subsequent conductors were Carl Pohlig (1907–12), Leopold Stokowski (1912–36), Eugene Ormandy (1936–80; director laureate until 1985), Riccardo Muti (1980–92), Wolfgang Sawallisch (1993–2003), and Christoph Eschenbach (2003–08).