Colton Privette, a Guthrie, Oklahoma native, joined the Oklahoma Chamber Symphony in May 2022 as third horn, performing alongside his wife, Niki, who plays piccolo. A graduate of the University of Central Oklahoma in 2020, Colton quickly distinguished himself within the ensemble. At the start of the 2022–2023 season, he was appointed principal horn, debuting in that role during the concert: “Film Music Festival: John Williams Birthday Celebration.”

Since then, Colton has played a key role in elevating the horn section’s presence and engagement with audiences. His initiatives have included organizing a horn quartet performance in the lobby before a concert and creating a dedicated Facebook page (Horns of the Oklahoma Chamber Symphony) to connect with the symphony’s supporters. These efforts have helped build a stronger relationship between the horn section and the orchestra’s community.

Among Colton’s most treasured moments with the Oklahoma Chamber Symphony is the performance of Antonín Dvořák’s A Hero’s Song. During this concert, in a heartwarming coincidence, he and Niki’s young son took his very first steps in the family room at the back of the hall—a memory that blends both musical and personal milestones.

Colton’s musicianship, leadership, and commitment to fostering audience engagement continue to enrich the Oklahoma Chamber Symphony and inspire those around him.

• What’s your walk-on theme song?: Can't Hold Us by Macklemore and Ryan Lewis

• Which movie soundtrack do you wish you could have played on?: Star Wars Episode IV: A NEW HOPE. Those horn solos are amazing!

• Which section of the orchestra would survive longest on a deserted island?: Probably the Bassoons.