As part of its program Canons and Cannons: Pops at the Forum, the Binghamton Philharmonic Orchestra in collaboration with the Wichita Symphony Orchestra, will present a twenty-first century restoration of Boyd Eagle’s, “Caprice” on Feb. 22, 2026 in Wichita and on Feb. 28, 2026 in Binghamton.
Boyd Eagle (1902-1989) was a citizen of the wal-lam-wat-kain band of Nimi:pu: (Nez Perce), led in the early twentieth century by legendary Chief Joseph. Eagle was a jazz musician, conductor and composer.
Eagle’s legacy lives on through his grandson, Maestro Daniel Hege, a member of the Chief Joseph Band of New Perce of the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation. Hege follows a similar path as Music Director and Conductor of the Wichita Symphony Orchestra and Music Director of the Binghamton Philharmonic Orchestra.
Founded in 1944, the Wichita Symphony Orchestra has been a cultural pillar in its region, dedicated to enriching, educating, and entertaining diverse audiences. Each year, the Symphony presents a season of Classics, Pops, and Young People’s Concerts and supports the future generation of musicians through its Wichita Symphony Youth Orchestras Program, which serves over 300 young instrumentalists from across the region.
The Binghamton Philharmonic, the Southern Tier’s largest and longest-serving professional symphony, was founded in 1955 by cellist/conductor Fritz Wallenberg and his wife, violinist Marianne Wallenberg as the Binghamton Symphony and Choral Society with a mission to perform live, full-scale orchestral works.
Today, the Philharmonic continues to grow under the leadership of Maestro Daniel Hege, who has served as Music Director since 2018. Guided by its mission of “Building Community Through the Power of Live Music,” the Binghamton Philharmonic offers innovative, engaging, and affordable programming to up to 10,000 people annually. In 2024, it was awarded the American Prize for Orchestral Performance, recognizing the ensemble’s artistic excellence on a national level.
The collaboration between the Binghamton Philharmonic Orchestra and the Wichita Symphony Orchestra honors the legacy of Boyd Eagle and celebrates the musical lineage continued by his grandson, Maestro Hege. Their joint performances of “Caprice” pay tribute to musical, cultural, and family heritage, bringing new depth to the classical repertoire.
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