News Release: Boyd Eagle's "Caprice"

NEWS RELEASE

May 7, 2025
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Maestro Daniel Hege Brings Grandfather's Music to Life As Binghamton Philharmonic Orchestra and Wichita Sympony Orchestra Co-Present Boyd Eagle's "Caprice"

In a unique collaboration with the Binghamton Philharmonic Orchestra, the Wichita Symphony Orchestra is proud to announce the restoration of a work by the late Native American composer Boyd Eagle (1902-1989). Thanks to a joint editorial effort by the two orchestras, Eagle’s piece “Caprice” will receive its twenty-first century premiere on February 22, 2026 in Wichita, as part of the Wichita Symphony's program Rhapsody in Red, White & Blue, and February 28, 2026 in Binghamton.

Boyd Eagle – a prolific jazz musician, conductor, and composer – was a citizen of the wal-lam-wat-kain band of Nimi:pu: (Nez Perce), led in the early twentieth century by legendary warrior Chief Joseph. His grandson, Maestro Daniel Hege, is a member of the Chief Joseph Band of Nez Perce of the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation. Boyd Eagle’s short orchestral piece “Caprice,” written in 1967, boasts lyrical melodies and vibrant rhythms, refl ecting his roots straddling jazz, classical, and Native musical traditions.

These performances of “Caprice” mark a milestone in the orchestras’ shared commitment to expand the canon by championing the work of diverse composers. Our preservation of Boyd Eagle’s unique voice is not just a joyful celebration of Maestro Hege’s musical legacy, but also a powerful affirmation of the ways our nation’s heritage continues to enrich classical music. We are honored to be a part of this remarkable tribute to musical, cultural, and family heritage.

FOR WICHITA MEDIA INQUIRIES:
Contact: Nina Longhofer, Marketing Director
Phone: (316) 267-5259, ext. 104
Email: nlonghofer@wso.org

FOR BINGHAMTON MEDIA INQUIRIES:
Contact: Julia Grella O'Connell, Dir. of Education & Community Engagement
Phone: (607) 723-3931 ext. 3
Email: j.grella.oconnell@binghamtonphilharmonic.org

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About the Wichita Symphony
Founded in 1944, the Wichita Symphony is one of the leading cultural organizations in the region whose mission is to enrich, educate, and entertain diverse audiences through performances of orchestral music. Led by Music Director and Conductor Daniel Hege, the Symphony presents a dynamic season of Classics, Pops, and Young People’s Concerts each year. The organization also supports the next generation of musicians through the six ensembles of the Wichita Symphony Youth Orchestras Program, which serves over 300 young instrumentalists from across the region.

About the Binghamton Philharmonic Orchestra
The Binghamton Philharmonic is the Southern Tier’s largest and longest-serving professional symphony orchestra. It was founded by cellist/conductor Fritz Wallenberg and his wife, violinist Marianne Wallenberg, in 1955 as the Binghamton Symphony and Choral Society, with the purpose of performing live, full-scale orchestral works.

Fritz Wallenberg led the organization artistically until 1976, when he was succeeded as Music Director by David Loebel. From 1982 to 2003, John Covelli was Music Director of the Binghamton Symphony, and, from 2003 to 2016, José-Luis Novo served as Music Director of the Binghamton Philharmonic. Maestro Daniel Hege became Principal Guest Conductor in 2016 and was appointed Music Director in 2018. In 2024, the Binghamton Philharmonic was awarded the American Prize for Orchestral Performance, which recognized the ensemble's artistic excellence among American professional symphony orchestras.

Today, the Binghamton Philharmonic serves up to 10,000 people annually through innovative, engaging, and affordable programming, meeting its mission of “Building Community Through the Power of Live Music.”