AN INTERVIEW WITH LARRY MAXEY - The University of Kansas

Q: Does this take kids from different schools in the city and put them together in an
orchestra?
A: String instrument are difficult to play, and the result is that the bands at the junior high
schools normally sound better than the orchestras at the same school. Besides which, the
orchestras are smaller and it is not possible to have wind players in them. Consequently,
we were losing string players at the junior high level. The Youth Symphony, which
combined students from all the junior high schools, provided these students with the
experience of hearing what a full orchestra with a large string and wind section could
really sound like. All of sudden they found out, “Oh, this is what orchestra is all about. I
guess I’ll stick with it.” So I think we saved a lot of string players through that.
Q: Do they still have that?
A: Yes, the Youth Symphony is still going on.
Q: You played in the Lawrence City Band also.
A: I was in the Lawrence Symphony Orchestra, when that existed, and the Lawrence
Chamber Players for a long time and the Lawrence City Band for a long time.
Q: I like to go and listen to that.
A: And I’ve played in the Kansas City Chamber Orchestra for a number of years, have
played often with the Topeka Symphony and I will play with them again this fall.
Q: With all these things that you do, how much do you practice?
A: I’ve always practiced almost every day, and I continue to do so because I would like to
keep playing. There are things that come along, and I would like to be in shape when
they come along. I practiced for a couple of hours before I came here today to talk with
you. I’ll continue to do that.
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