A Slippery Rock University student is an accomplished saxophonist who earned a scholarship and a professional recording session with a local symphony orchestra.
Quin Coltman, a junior dual music education and music performance major from Conneaut, Ohio (Conneaut HS), won the 2026 Butler County Symphony Orchestra Collegiate Concerto Competition.
The award included a $1,000 scholarship, a professional recording session and a soloist performance with the BCSO at its concert on March 7 at the Butler High School Auditorium.
“I came from a small high school in Ohio, so this felt like a big step for me in all aspects,” Coltman said. “It was surreal. It didn’t feel real at times, especially in rehearsals.”
Coltman’s performance of John Williams’ “Escapades” was recognized for the audition-based honor above a large population of musicians under age 25 residing within a 25-mile radius of Butler city or attending one of eight western Pennsylvania colleges and universities.
Coltman studies under the tutelage of Jason Kush, SRU professor of music.
Since 1979, the BCSO annually honors the talent and performance of one young adult musician in western Pennsylvania.
More information about music at SRU is available on the program’s webpage.
A video of Coltman’s recorded performance is available below:
