Guest Conductor
Currently in his 10th season as music director of the Syracuse Symphony Orchestra, Daniel Hege is widely recognized as one of the nation's finest young conductors, earning critical acclaim for his fresh interpretations of the standard repertoire and for his commitment to creative programming. Having been appointed music director of the Wichita Symphony in June 2009, he will begin his tenure there in September 2010.
Following a nationwide search, Mr. Hege was named music director of the Syracuse Symphony Orchestra in April 1999. In June 2001, he completed a five-year tenure with the Baltimore Symphony, where he held the titles of assistant, associate, and resident conductor. Mr. Hege has also served as music director of the Haddonfield (New Jersey) Symphony, associate conductor of the Kansas City Symphony, music director of the Encore Chamber Orchestra in Chicago, and music director of the Chicago Youth Symphony, where he was twice honored by the American Symphony Orchestra League for innovative programming.
Mr. Hege has guest conducted the Houston, Detroit, Seattle, Indianapolis, Oregon, Colorado, San Diego, Columbus, and Phoenix symphonies; the Rochester, Buffalo, and Calgary philharmonics; and at the Grand Teton and Aspen music festivals. International engagements include leading the Singapore Symphony and the St. Petersburg Symphony at the Winter Nights Festival. In addition, he regularly works with the Syracuse Opera, where he has conducted productions of Madame Butterfly, La Traviata, Tosca, and Don Pasquale.
In April 2003, Mr. Hege led the Syracuse Symphony in a critically acclaimed concert at a sold-out Carnegie Hall. He has also made two recordings – a disc with the Baltimore Symphony and the Morgan State University Choir featuring works by Adolphus Hailstork, and a CD with the Syracuse Symphony featuring works by Verdi, Barber, Debussy, Respighi, and James Johnson.
Recent and upcoming guest conducting engagements include appearances with the Louisiana, Rochester, and Orlando philharmonics, the Louisville Orchestra, and the Pacific, Grand Rapids, Madison, Tulsa, and Santa Rosa symphonies.
Mr. Hege received his bachelor's degree in 1987 from Bethel College in Kansas, where he majored in music and history. He continued his studies at the University of Utah, where he received a master of music degree in orchestra conducting, founded the University Chamber Orchestra, and served as both assistant conductor of the University Orchestra and music director of the Utah Singers. He subsequently studied with Paul Vermel at the Aspen Music Festival and School and in Los Angeles with noted conductor and pedagogue Daniel Lewis.
In May 2004, Mr. Hege was awarded an honorary doctorate from Le Moyne College in Syracuse for his contributions to the cultural life in central New York.