Who decides what music an orchestra plays?

The conductor (also known as director) of the orchestra is the one who decides what the orchestra plays. Of course, the orchestra members might tell the conductor some recommendations by them.

See also:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orchestra

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conducting_(music)

Best regards.

As someone who has actually programmed for a number of professional orchestras over many years, I can tell you it is a partnership between the conductor/music director and the management executive responsible for programming. Both parties will have views on how they want programmes to be formulated and often a lively and interesting discussion will ensue along the way. Often the conductor will be thinking of his concert only, while the programming manager will have a view on how he wants the season to look as a whole, wanting to present a balanced and appealing series of concerts over several months. Also, the choice of soloist for a concerto (if appropriate) is also taken in this way (although the conductor will often have his/her preferred soloists). Very occasionally, a soloist might also throw something into the pot if they think there's a piece that complements the concerto they're playing.

Community orchestras function very differently. They have far fewer concerts (maybe three or four per year, where a professional orchestra might have two, three or four per WEEK) and need to choose repertoire that suits the size and standard of the orchestra (whereas a professional orchestra can play ANYTHING). A community orchestra doesn't have to worry about finances too much; its players are amateurs, it only has a few concerts to which the musicians' friends and family will attend in (usually) large numbers. A professional orchestra has a huge wage bill every month (for its musicians and management) and has to achieve good and regular ticket sales as an important part of its income. In a community orchestra, often the conductor will decide what the orchestra plays in consultation with a committee.

generally the conductor is also the music director... but sometimes the board has a say too 'cause they wanna pick things that are popular enough to sell tickets.

a community orchestra might be more open to suggestions from the members since it has a different goal than a pro orchestra.

The conductor decides what music an orchestra plays. By community do you mean youth orchestras? Most adult orchestra's are professional. They only differ in experience and perhaps expectations. They also perform more difficult music.

In both cases, the artistic director. Some will have a music committee that makes suggestions, but the final decision comes from the music or artistic director.

Toscanini had narrow musical tastes.

He didn't like much of anything earlier than Beethoven

and he didn't like much of anything later than Sibelius.

So his entire repertoire laid within that range.

They say that conductors today don't have that much autonomy.

They have to play a little of everything whether they like it or not.

Well blah blah this and that and I know Ur mom does it cuz I watch her