When he was just 15 years old, Ricardo Ochoa was accepted into the Venezuela Philharmonic, making him the youngest musician to ever enter the Orchestra. Nowadays, you can catch Ochoa with Savannah Philharmonic Orchestra, where he’s principle second violin, and with his highly-acclaimed band of gypsy jazz crafters, Velvet Caravan. While he’s fluent in Jazz, Gypsy, and Country styles, what really distinguishes Ochoa is his fun and spirited take on performance; the energy he emits while soaring through violin leads is completely contagious and entrancing.
Runner-up: Jackson Evans
