Kristo Kondakçi
David and Janet McCue Music Director
Celebrated for his visionary leadership and innovative programming, Albanian-American conductor Kristo Kondakçi is redefining the role of the modern conductor as a driving force for artistic excellence and meaningful change in communities worldwide.
Born in Tirana, Albania, Kristo Kondakçi's artistic mission is shaped by his family's escape from the brutal oppression of Enver Hoxha's Communist regime. His grandfather, Beqir Omari, was imprisoned for performing Western music, and his great-uncle, a virtuoso musician, was executed, while other family members endured imprisonment and exile. This legacy of courage and creativity drives his mission to unite artistic excellence with community impact, using music to inspire and connect across cultures.
As the David and Janet McCue Music Director of the Kendall Square Orchestra (K²O) — a 94-member ensemble drawn from over 60 leading technology and life science organizations — Kondakçi champions initiatives that combine musical innovation with philanthropic action. At Boston's historic Symphony Hall, K²O's Symphony for Science series has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for healthcare causes through collaborations with figures such as Boston Pops conductor Keith Lockhart and Nobel Laureate Esther Duflo. In partnership with Pfizer and Next Step, Kondakçi also led the creation of Come and Walk a Mile, an anthem for rare disease awareness that has reached audiences worldwide.
A graduate of the New England Conservatory in conducting and composition, Kondakçi made his professional debut with the Albanian National Orchestra in 2014 and has since collaborated with orchestras including the Boston Philharmonic, Boston Landmarks Orchestra, Portland Symphony Orchestra, Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra, Tulsa Symphony Orchestra, and the Vienna Summer Music Festival Orchestra and Opera, among others. He serves as Assistant Professor at Berklee College of Music, a non-resident tutor at Harvard University, and regularly works as a cover conductor for professional orchestras including the Portland Symphony Orchestra.
In 2017, Kondakçi co-founded the Eureka Ensemble, using music as a catalyst for community-driven change. Their initiatives have addressed issues from homelessness and mental health to climate change, childhood obesity, and music education — garnering acclaim from PBS, NPR, The Boston Globe, and others. Their Rising Tides climate-awareness program in partnership with the University of Massachusetts Boston School for the Environment was highlighted at the 2022 Earthshot Prize ceremony.
Kondakçi also co-founded the Women's Chorus at the Women's Lunch Place in Boston, providing over 200 women ages 17-82 experiencing homelessness and poverty with a safe space for artistic expression and empowerment. The program continues to this day. During the COVID-19 crisis, he co-launched Boston Hope Music with the New England Conservatory and Massachusetts General Hospital, delivering therapeutic performances for patients and healthcare workers. These pioneering efforts earned Kondakçi a Berklee Urban Service Award and have been spotlighted by NowThis News, reaching millions worldwide.
A highly sought-after speaker, Kondakçi has presented at TEDxBoston and the League of American Orchestras, demonstrating how orchestral principles can unify teams, refine leadership strategies, and spark sustainable innovation. Through his leadership development program, The Leading Tone — designed in collaboration with the Kendall Square Orchestra — Kondakçi engages leaders from a wide range of fields, including business, technology, and public policy, linking best practices from the world of music with specific, actionable business behaviors. Participants gain mastery of intentional communication through voice, gesture, and language; develop new frameworks for leadership and collaboration; and learn practical techniques for inspiring team performance. Organizations including PwC and Kinden Corporation have embraced this innovative approach to achieve their strategic goals.
Residing in Boston with his wife, Chloe, he continues to design bold new projects and broaden his community-centered efforts. His upcoming season features major orchestral debuts and groundbreaking partnerships that underscore his belief that music, at its core, can unite us, heal us, and drive meaningful change.