Board of Directors

The Tri-City Youth Symphony began as a musical initiative in 1972 in the Tri-Cities region of central Nebraska — encompassing Grand Island, Hastings, and Kearney. The ensemble was created to provide a high-level orchestral experience for talented high school musicians from the area.

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The orchestra was founded under the leadership of Larry D. Maupin, a devoted music educator and orchestra director in Grand Island Public Schools, who envisioned an ensemble that could bring together the region’s most promising young musicians for regular rehearsals and public performances. Rehearsals were typically held on Saturday mornings throughout the school year, allowing students from across central Nebraska to collaborate musically and grow as ensemble players.

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From its first season in 1972–73, the Tri-City Youth Symphony embraced an ambitious schedule of concerts across the region, with performances in Grand Island, Hastings, Kearney, and smaller Nebraska communities. The ensemble often featured guest soloists and collaborated with visiting artists, enriching the cultural life of the area while giving students the opportunity to perform ambitious repertoire.

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For many years the Tri-City Youth Symphony served as a cornerstone of youth music in central Nebraska, helping young musicians deepen their skills, build confidence, and make meaningful artistic connections, until the organization took a hiatus in 2009. ​In 2025, the Tri-City Youth Symphony was adapted into the Central Nebraska Youth Orchestra to encompass student musicians from central Nebraska and beyond, striving to continue the legacy started by the Tri-City Youth Symphony.