Hege Conducts Shostakovich’s Tenth | NOI Philharmonic

The 2026 National Orchestral Institute + Festival concludes with music of renewal led by Wichita Symphony Music Director Daniel Hege. The program begins with Polina Nazaykinskaya's symphonic poem Fenix, an emotional journey through darkness into light. Offering a different perspective on the Firebird legend, Hege then leads the NOI Philharmonic in Igor Stravinsky’s lavish ballet Firebird. Based on Russian folklore, Stravinsky’s Firebird tells the story of a prince who enlists the help of the titular character to defeat a powerful, ogre-like figure of evil. Stravinsky blended much of the compositional stylings taught to him by Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov with the fervor of Russian music to create this captivating piece that launched his career. Closing out this year’s festival is Dmitri Shostakovich’s tenth symphony. He was inspired by the socio-political backdrop of his life when he composed his Symphony No. 10, widely believed to paint a musical picture of Joseph Stalin’s regime in Russia. The symphony’s triumphant conclusion serves as a reminder of hope and resilience.