Kendall Square Orchestra

05/13/2026

This Friday. One night only.

Experience Adrian Anantawan live with Kendall Square Orchestra as he performs Tchaikovsky’s Violin Concerto at Sanders Theatre.

Born without a right hand, Adrian uses an adaptive device that allows him to bow with his arm and shoulder, building a remarkable career through invention and extraordinary musicianship.

Led by conductor Kristo Kondakçi, the program also includes Carlos Simon’s Fate Now Conquers and Brahms’ Fourth Symphony.

🎟️ Tickets are going quickly. Get yours today at https://www.kendallsquareorchestra.org/25-26-what-endures

05/01/2026

When you see a one-handed violinist play, you know there’s a story behind the notes.

In Adrian Anantawan’s case, the story began when he played violin for the first time at age 9 and fell in love. Born without a right hand and most of his right forearm, he worked with prosthetists to develop an adaptive extension that made playing possible.

On May 15, experience Adrian live as he performs Tchaikovsky’s Violin Concerto with the Kendall Square Orchestra at Sanders Theatre.

🎟️ Get tickets at https://www.kendallsquareorchestra.org/25-26-what-endures

04/20/2026

Tchaikovsky wrote this masterpiece in just eleven days. 🎶

And at the time, he was at the lowest point of his life.

In a disastrous attempt to hide his homosexuality, he married and fled weeks later in a deep depression. Yet, while seeking refuge at Lake Geneva, he composed one of the most soulfully joyous and brilliant works of all time: his Concerto for Violin. 🎻✨

Not everyone heard it that way at first. One prominent critic dismissed the finale as the “wretched jollity of a Russian holiday.”

Today, of course, Tchaikovsky’s Violin Concerto endures as one of the most beloved works in all of music. Perhaps now more than ever, we can understand the inspiration for its beauty, bravura and triumph.

On May 15th, you can hear it live with the Kendall Square Orchestra, performed by a virtuoso whose story truly embodies this music.

One Night Only!
🗓️ May 15th at 7:30PM
📍 Sanders Theatre, Cambridge, MA

🎟️ Get Your Tickets at https://www.kendallsquareorchestra.org/25-26-what-endures

04/07/2026

When everything seemed lost—his hearing, his finances, even his creative voice—Ludwig van Beethoven turned to a single line from Homer: “Fate now conquers…”

Two centuries later, that same spark ignites Carlos Simon’s electrifying Fate Now Conquers—a bold, fast-paced opener inspired by Beethoven’s struggle and resilience.

Experience it live alongside Tchaikovsky’s soaring Violin Concerto and Brahms’ Fourth Symphony, performed with signature energy by the Kendall Square Orchestra under Kristo Kondakçi.

Some music endures. This is why.
🎟️ Get your tickets now and be part of it: https://www.kendallsquareorchestra.org/25-26-what-endures

03/18/2026

All 113 musicians on stage at our concert last Friday were thrilled to perform Mahler's epic Sixth Symphony! Mark your calendars to join us for our season finale, "What Endures," on May 15th, featuring works by Simon, Tchaikovsky, and Brahms: https://www.kendallsquareorchestra.org/25-26-what-endures
📸: Eric Antoniou

03/11/2026

Hear Mahler's soaring theme for his wife Alma -- and experience all of his epic Sixth Symphony, performed with vivid passion and power by the Kendall Square Orchestra, on March 13th at Sanders Theater.

Tickets: http://tinyurl.com/k2omahler6
Photo: Atelier D'Ora-Benda

03/09/2026

Kendall Square Orchestra brings Boston’s most inventive minds — scientists, engineers, physicians, and entrepreneurs — together onstage to make music that connects and inspires.

On March 13 they perform Mahler's epic Sixth Symphony: music of towering beauty, fierce struggle, and moments of almost unbearable tenderness that reveals both the fragility and the resilience of the human spirit.

Get tickets at https://tinyurl.com/k2omahler6.

03/02/2026

For the climax of his Sixth Symphony, Mahler conceived of a sound no instrument at the time could create, something that would convey the inexorable blows of fate. He wanted it “brief, mighty, and dull-sounding, like an axe stroke.” Percussionists ever since have strived to create the dull resonance Mahler wanted, at the volume needed to transmit its impact, resulting in what is now known as the Mahler Box. Check out the helpful demonstration here to learn more and then get your tickets to see it live at Sanders Theatre on March 13th! Tickets: kendallsquareorchestra.org/concerts

Curious about what it takes to create the perfect Mahler hammer blow? 🎵🔨 Join Luxembourg Philharmonic percussionist Benjamin Schäfer as he reveals all the ...

02/24/2026

From its propulsive opening to the shattering final movement, Mahler's Sixth Symphony confronts fate with unflinching honesty, revealing both the fragility and the resilience of the human spirit. Join us at Sanders Theatre on Friday, March 13th to experience this profound work. Tickets: kendallsquareorchestra.org/concerts

Mahler’s Symphony No. 6 takes center stage in K²O’s Edge of Destiny — a sweeping journey through beauty, struggle, and the resilience of the human spirit. From its driving opening to its powerful conclusion, this monumental work grips the heart and mind, offering an unforgettable evening in t...

02/15/2026

“You’re not just playing by yourself. You’re part of an organism that’s got its own life.” K2O Co-Founder Elena Spencer and Music Director Kristo Kondakçi talked with C&EN to share their thoughts on the intersections of science and music.

A symphony of proteins and an orchestra of scientists