Esperanza Spalding October 27, 2012

Esperanza Spalding attributes her inspiration for pursuing a life in music to watching classical cellist Yo-Yo Ma perform on an episode of 'Mister Rogers' Neighborhood' when she was four. By the time she was five, she had taught herself to play the violin and was playing with the Chamber Music Society of Oregon. She left the group at age 15 after being elevated to a concertmaster position. Since relocating to the East Coast from Portland, OR, the Berklee graduate has become the youngest Berklee music instructor at age 20. The 2011 Best New Artist Grammy Award-winner has forged an impressive and varied career.