2023 Entertainment and Performers

Our 2023 entertainment and performances were spectacular and lasted all day long.  Visitors enjoyed Jewish food along with Jewish music and dance.

Shalom Y’All Headliners: Ricardo Ochoa & the Euro Gypsy Jazz Band!

Accomplished violinist Ricardo Ochoa is best known for his performances with the Savannah Philharmonic and as a founding member of Velvet Caravan, a popular gypsy swing band, SXSW favorite and Connect Savannah’s Best Local Jazz Band/Artist winner. Once the youngest member of the Venezuela Philharmonic, Ochoa has also served as a soloist with a number of symphonies and orchestras across the United States including our own Savannah Philharmonic. Thank you, Ricardo, for coordinating the music and for supplying the Shalom Y’All Jewish Food Festival with such talented musicians!

GRAMMY Award-winning jazz musician Marc Chesanow regularly serves as a bassist for the Savannah Philharmonic and the Hilton Head Symphony. His arrangements have been performed by the Charleston Symphony, Savannah Philharmonic and other orchestras across the United States. Throughout his career, Chesanow has shared the stage with top artists, including Wycliffe Gordon, Rod Stewart, Bernadette Peters, Isaac Hayes, the Marvelettes and The Moody Blues.

Guitarist Travis Pullman is a musical entrepreneur, composer, performer and educator at Georgia Southern University as well as an instructor with the Savannah Music Festival’s SMF Jazz Academy, specializing in acoustic, electric and slide guitar. To date, Pullman has performed with Parliament Funkadelic and Sandra Bernhardt, toured nationally and internationally and shared the stage with acclaimed acts, including The Rebirth Brass Band, Melvin Seals, Slavic Soul Party and Ezekiel’s Wheels. Pullman’s musical scores have been featured in films for the National Geographic Society and Discover magazine, among others.

Sasha Strunjas, though well-known for jazz and blues, defies classification. This medical doctor and father of two, can rock any music with the passion of his former country while providing a fresh sound to any musical group. Founding guitarist of the well-known and loved Velvet Caravan, the popular gypsy swing band, Sasha brings gypsy soul to any performance.

The Savannah Theater

Website: https://savannahtheatre.com

Michael Zaller & cast members of Fiddler on the Roof

Website: https://savannahphilharmonic.org/

Shalom Y’All String Quartet Courtesy of the Savannah Philharmonic
Ricardo Ochoa, violin
Conrad Thomas, violin
LiZhou Liu, viola
Dr. Leah Dutton, cello

This dynamic string quartet from within the Savannah Philharmonic includes Ricardo Ochoa (violin), Conrad Thomas (violin), LiZhou Liu (viola), and Leah Dutton (cello). As performers and teachers, these musicians each enrich Savannah’s community by teaching students of all ages and presenting performances in a variety of genres across the region. Today’s special program will feature a wide range of music, highlighting pieces from the Savannah Philharmonic season’s upcoming concerts.