Soloists shine in Butler County Symphony Orchestra concert Saturday
Solos, swing and saxophone stole the show Saturday night, March 7, at the Butler County Symphony Orchestra’s concert titled “Crossroads of Sound” at Butler Intermediate High School.
The symphony orchestra highlighted its donor-funded education initiatives by inviting Quin Coltman, a saxophone player studying music education and performance at Slippery Rock University, to perform alongside it for his 2026 Concerto Competition winning piece.
It also recognized 86 “Young Musicians of Note,” who were nominated by music teachers in public and private schools as well as private instructors. The student musicians received an ovation, a certificate and a yard sign, which attendees were encouraged to look for around the county.
The symphony orchestra opened with George Gershwin’s “An American In Paris,” which conductor Moon Doh explained symbolizes a stroll through Paris as an American tourist.
Gershwin’s piece features four pitches of French taxi horns. Doh said Gershwin was so intrigued by them he brought the sound home from Paris to New York.
Doh added Gershwin brought American jazz to the national stage.
Sections of the piece bring to mind exploring different parts of the city. The bustle of downtown contrasts with the serenity of the arts.
The piece also includes large shifts in dynamics and incorporates jazz elements into the melancholy phrases that represent homesickness. Concertmaster Tanya Satteson shined in these phrases with her violin solos.
To begin the second piece, Doh introduced Coltman to perform his Concerto award-winning piece “Escapades” composed by the “living legend” John Williams. The piece was featured in the 2002 film “Catch Me If You Can.”
Coltman stood beside the podium as Doh conducted the symphony orchestra while they both danced to the groove of Coltman’s saxophone. The piece sounded sly, suspicious and tense, even incorporating shushes and finger snaps into the music as Coltman’s saxophone was complemented by different parts of the symphony orchestra.
The strings and percussion continued to drive the piece between Coltman’s features and solos.
Coltman’s notation during runs up and down the saxophone and breath control demonstrated technique and talent beyond his years. He was gifted with a bouquet of flowers on stage when the piece finished.
The second half of the concert featured only one piece split into five parts: Béla Bartók’s Concerto for Orchestra. Doh explained Bartók was in a hospital weighing 87 pounds when he was approached to write the piece after fleeing Hungary from Nazis.
Saturday was the first time the symphony orchestra performed the piece.
The different parts of the piece usually began and ended similarly, which created a symmetry throughout before the fifth part tied them all together.
The different parts also created solo opportunities for each section of the orchestra, allowing each to show off their chops.
The symphony orchestra will wrap up its season with “John Williams to Bernstein: Legends of Screen and Stage” March 27.
