K²O Names David Snead and Dr. Helen Riess to Board of Directors

The Kendall Square Orchestra has appointed two new members to its Board of Directors: David Snead, the recently retired President and CEO of the Handel and Haydn Society, and Dr. Helen Riess, Associate Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School and Director of the Empathy and Relational Science Program at Massachusetts General Hospital.

Their appointments mark a meaningful step in K²O's evolution as an orchestra that pairs artistic excellence with civic purpose.

David Snead spent nearly a decade leading the Handel and Haydn Society, the country's oldest continuously operating performing arts organization. Under his leadership, H+H's annual revenue grew by 45% and its endowment expanded from $13 million to more than $34 million. Before Boston, he served fourteen years as Vice President of Marketing, Brand and Customer Experience at the New York Philharmonic, and held senior positions at the Pittsburgh Symphony, the Minnesota Orchestra, the Milwaukee Symphony, and the Hartford Symphony. Musical America named him one of its Top 30 Professionals of the Year in 2021. At K²O, he will support strategic communications and audience development as the orchestra continues to grow its reach.

Dr. Helen Riess has built her career at the intersection of medicine and human connection. As Director of the Empathy and Relational Science Program at Massachusetts General Hospital, she leads research on the neuroscience of empathy and its role in clinical care. She is the author of The Empathy Effect: Seven Neuroscience-Based Keys for Transforming the Way We Live, Love, Work, and Connect Across Differences, and her TEDx talk "The Power of Empathy" has reached more than 600,000 viewers. She also founded Empathetics, which trains healthcare organizations in empathy-based communication. Her presence on the board reflects K²O's commitment to exploring the connection between music, human experience, and care.

"These are two people who understand, in very different but complementary ways, how human connection is built," said Kristo Kondakçi, Music Director of the Kendall Square Orchestra. "David has spent his career bringing orchestras into closer relationship with the world around them. Helen has dedicated hers to helping us understand what it means to truly see and care for one another. Both perspectives are essential to what K²O is becoming."

David McCue, President of the Board, added: "K²O has always been about more than performance. It is about creating a space where people come together around something meaningful. David and Helen each bring clarity, depth, and a sense of purpose that will help guide us forward."

Founded in Cambridge, K²O brings together musicians from across Greater Boston's innovation economy. Its players are scientists, engineers, healthcare professionals, and entrepreneurs who perform at the highest level while engaging directly with the most pressing issues of our time. Through initiatives such as Symphony for Science, the orchestra has raised awareness and support for causes including rare disease advocacy, homelessness, and public health.

With the additions of Snead and Riess, K²O continues to build a leadership team that reflects both the artistic ambition and the human mission at the core of its work.

David McCue Named President of Kendall Square Orchestra

McCue will assume duties in January 2026, succeeding co-founder Elena Spencer, who will continue to serve on the Board.

BOSTON, MA — Kendall Square Orchestra (K²O), an orchestra at the intersection of art, science, and community, has announced the election of David McCue as its new President, effective January 2026. The leadership transition was first shared by outgoing President and co-founder Elena Spencer during the orchestra’s season-opening concert on October 10, 2025, at Sanders Theatre. Spencer, whose vision and leadership helped establish K²O in 2018, will continue to serve on the Board of Directors, overseeing Corporate Engagement and Governance.

The appointment of McCue marks a milestone in the orchestra’s journey. A steadfast supporter of K²O since its inception, he brings both personal conviction and professional acumen to his new role. His leadership comes at a pivotal time as the orchestra expands its artistic reach, cultivates new audiences, and strengthens its civic impact through initiatives like Symphony for Science.

“Every orchestra needs leaders who remind us what is possible,” said Kristo Kondakçi, David & Janet McCue Music Director. “The story of K²O has always been about vision, courage, and community, and David has embodied that spirit from the very beginning. Having him now lead K²O with that same wisdom and heart is a gift for the entire orchestra and community.”

Reflecting on her tenure, Elena Spencer shared: “From the beginning, K²O was built to show that music could do more than move people emotionally, it could connect industries, inspire innovation, and fuel change. It has been a privilege to help bring this vision to life, and I’m thrilled to continue serving alongside David as we build the orchestra’s next era together.”

For McCue, the appointment is both personal and visionary. “Throughout my career, I’ve seen how successful organizations are built on purpose and people,” said David McCue. “What drew me to K²O is the way it unites people from across Boston’s science and technology community and channels their talents into something larger than themselves. It is music in service of artistic beauty and social impact. To take on the role of President at a time when K2O is on a high growth trajectory is an exciting opportunity to help discern and realize its full potential.”

About Kendall Square Orchestra (K²O)

Born in the heart of the world’s most innovative square mile, the Kendall Square Orchestra (K²O) has become one of Boston’s most unexpected cultural forces, a biotech-fueled breakthrough in classical music. Founded in 2018 by Kelly Clark and Elena Spencer, this unique ensemble brings together nearly 100 musicians from over 70 science and technology institutions, uniting artistic excellence with scientific ingenuity. Beyond the concert stage, K²O advances its mission through community engagement and its signature biennial event, Symphony for Science at Symphony Hall, which raises funds and awareness for healthcare and STEM education initiatives such as the Boston Health Care for the Homeless Program. By pairing symphonic masterworks with urgent human themes, K²O is redefining the role of an orchestra today, cultivating audiences who experience orchestral music as both profound artistic expression and a catalyst for social good.