NEWS RELEASE
Wichita Symphony Orchestra
January 5, 2026
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wichita Symphony Presents “Voyage to Vienna”
Wichita, KS — The Wichita Symphony Orchestra invites audiences to travel to the heart of classical music with “Voyage to Vienna,” performing Saturday, January 24, 2026, at 7:30 PM in the Century II Concert Hall. Led by Music Director Daniel Hege, the program explores the lineage of the Viennese tradition, and features Leonid Shukaev, Principal Cellist of the Wichita Symphony Orchestra and a professor at Wichita State University, as soloist.
The evening opens with the visceral and modern “Restless Oceans” by contemporary English composer Anna Clyne. The piece was written to rouse the orchestra through the use of their voices, ultimately calling them to stand united.
The voyage then moves to the Classical era with Haydn’s Cello Concerto No. 1 in C Major, featuring WSO Principal Cellist Dr. Leonid Shukaev as soloist. Lost for nearly 200 years until its miraculous rediscovery in 1961, the concerto is a virtuosic showcase originally written for a performer far ahead of his time.
“This piece is the core of the cello repertoire,” says Dr. Shukaev. “My goal is to find the language that makes this music feel like it was written today or yesterday, establishing a real connection with the heart of the listener.”
One of the greatest joys of any season is the opportunity to spotlight the extraordinary talent we have right here within our own ranks,” says Tim Storhoff, Executive Director of the Wichita Symphony. “Leonid is a cornerstone of this orchestra and a beloved figure in our musical community. This concert offers audiences a unique chance to celebrate a world-class artist who lives and works in Wichita every day.”
The concert concludes with Brahms’s Symphony No. 4 in E minor, a work of profound emotional depth. For Music Director Daniel Hege, the performance is a full-circle moment; hearing this specific symphony in his youth was the very spark that inspired him to pursue a life and career in music.
CONCERT DETAILS:
This performance is sponsored by Shoko Kato Sevart and the late Daniel J. Sevart, the Sam & Rie Bloomfield Foundation, The City of Wichita, and The State of Kansas through the Kansas Arts Commission and the National Endowment for the Arts.
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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.
FOR MEDIA INQUIRIES:
Contact: Tim Storhoff, Executive Director
Phone: (316) 267-5259, ext. 106
Email: tstorhoff@wso.org
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