In the days leading up to the big performance, Latin rhythms echoed through Kent State University’s Ludwig Recital Hall as the Kent State Jazz Orchestra rehearsed. At the center of it all, legendary drummer, composer and educator, Bobby Sanabria wasn’t just teaching rhythm; he was challenging students.
“The way you really get experience in this business is by playing with more experienced musicians,” Sanabria told Kent State Today.
As part of Kent State’s ongoing 2025-26 Thomas Schroth Visiting Artist Series, the university hosted seven-time Grammy nominee Bobby Sanabria as a guest artist. He led master classes, rehearsals and lectures focused on music, business and social change.
Sanabria’s time at the university offered eager students the chance to learn directly from him and to soak up as much knowledge as they could.
“I’d love to get any of it from him, to be honest with you,” Ben Jackson, a junior music performance major and a drummer, said. “From the way that he plays to the way that he teaches to the way that he composes and arranges pieces, I would love to get any bit of information that I can.”
Jackson performed alongside Sanabria in the jazz orchestra, stepping outside his usual drum setup to play congas. He said Sanabria taught him how to play the congas in just 10 minutes on the first day of rehearsal, and Jackson continued improving throughout the week.
Other students said they found value in their time with Sanabria through rehearsal discussions that went beyond the notes on the page.
“Half of our rehearsal time was probably talking about the history of certain rhythms or the music that we’re playing in general, and I think that’s really great,” Chase Foster, a peace and conflict studies major with a jazz studies minor and a saxophonist, said. “It’s really important, so I’m super excited to present it; even if it’s not perfect, it’s going to be a great show.”
And a great show it was. The concert saw a large turnout, with seats filled, and guests salsa danced and twirled across the floor, their hips moving in harmony with the band’s Latin rhythms.
The night after the concert, Sanabria performed at the National Hispanic Heritage Month Showcase at the Bop Stop in Cleveland, where he invited Kent State students who had learned under him to attend for free. He also welcomed Kent State music professor Bobby Selvaggio to join him in performing on stage.
That night, Sanabria took a moment to express his gratitude for the warm welcome he received at Kent State and even performed a song in honor of the May 4 Memorial, moved by his own visit to the site.
Sanabria’s appreciation for Kent State’s history and commitment to the arts resonated with the faculty.
Nick Petrella, entrepreneur-in-residence at the John S. and Marlene J. Brinzo Center for Entrepreneurship within the Ambassador Crawford College of Business and Entrepreneurship, has first-hand knowledge of Sanabria's intent.
“He is a staunch supporter of music education, a fantastic communicator, energetic and passionate about passing on knowledge,” Petrella said.
Petrella has known Sanabria for years and said he isn’t just a performer, but a teacher, mentor and advocate for the next generation of musicians.
“I had Bobby speak with my students virtually, and when a student was heading to New York to audition, Bobby gave her the personal number of Janis Siegel from Manhattan Transfer,” Petrella said. “She was stunned and ended up scheduling a lesson. That’s networking, and that’s the kind of access Bobby creates for others.”
That spirit of connection is central to Sanabria’s personal philosophy: doing for others what his early mentors once did for him.
“The people that opened doors for me were these legendary musicians that saw something in me and called me for work,” Sanabria said.
Through his teaching and performances, Sanabria illustrates how the arts teach value creation.
Unlike products, music and art can’t be sold on price alone, they invite people to see intrinsic worth. It’s a lesson relevant to students in all fields, not just the arts.
“You’re always auditioning. And remember the two most important words in this business: thank you,” Sanabria said.