Violinist performed together with the Nova Orquestra (New Orchestra), on the first weekend of the festival

“I confess I wasn’t expecting an invitation like this, an incredible opportunity that caught me totally off guard”. This is how musician Gabriel Ramos, from OCAMP (Orquestra de Câmara do Pantanal / Pantanal Chamber Orchestra), describes the surprise he had when invited by the Nova Orquestra to perform together with them at Rock in Rio 2022. OCAMP was created within the Instituto Moinho Cultural Sul-Americano (South American Moinho Cultural Institute), which this year turns 18, and has since taken part in several productions nationwide in Brazil’s main capitals and also outside the country.

Gabriel is a violinist and describes the experience as innovative, inspiring and motivating. “(The experience) motivates me to always walk the path of music, because sometimes we need to carry music with us and present it to other people. And that’s what we do every day: show people our music, our poetry, our history”, he states.

At Rock in Rio, the violinist was the only representative of OCAMP and the Instituto Moinho Cultural Sul-Americano. “For me, it was more than surprising, because I got to meet several musicians, another city. I’ll carry this with me and into my music career too”, he assures.

The Nova Orquestra is a Rio de Janeiro project that popularizes concert music, opening the way to a fusion of rhythms. Recently, OCAMP musicians joined the Nova Orquestra to present the show Exagerado, in tribute to the work of singer Cazuza, in Rio de Janeiro and Belo Horizonte (MG).

For Gabriel, the trip, besides being a milestone in his own career, also showed how people love music. “It was really cool to notice how people watched us everywhere. When I was at the airport, on the streets, heading to the stage, several people asked me what I played, whether I was a musician, since when. When I answered, they were very happy. It’s good to know that, everywhere, people love music”, he concludes.