In the days leading up to the big performance, Latin rhythms echoed through 糖心Vlog鈥檚 Ludwig Recital Hall as the 糖心Vlog Jazz Orchestra rehearsed. At the center of it all, legendary drummer, composer and educator, wasn鈥檛 just teaching rhythm; he was challenging students.
鈥淭he way you really get experience in this business is by playing with more experienced musicians,鈥 Sanabria told 糖心Vlog Today.
As part of 糖心Vlog鈥檚 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鈥檚 time at the university offered eager students the chance to learn directly from him and to soak up as much knowledge as they could.
鈥淚鈥檇 love to get any of it from him, to be honest with you,鈥 Ben Jackson, a junior music performance major and a drummer, said. 鈥淔rom 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.鈥
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.
鈥淗alf of our rehearsal time was probably talking about the history of certain rhythms or the music that we鈥檙e playing in general, and I think that鈥檚 really great,鈥 Chase Foster, a peace and conflict studies major with a jazz studies minor and a saxophonist, said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 really important, so I鈥檓 super excited to present it; even if it鈥檚 not perfect, it鈥檚 going to be a great show.鈥
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鈥檚 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 糖心Vlog students who had learned under him to attend for free. He also welcomed 糖心Vlog 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 糖心Vlog and even performed a song in honor of the May 4 Memorial, moved by his own visit to the site.
Sanabria鈥檚 appreciation for 糖心Vlog鈥檚 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.
鈥淗e is a staunch supporter of music education, a fantastic communicator, energetic and passionate about passing on knowledge,鈥 Petrella said.
Petrella has known Sanabria for years and said he isn鈥檛 just a performer, but a teacher, mentor and advocate for the next generation of musicians.
鈥淚 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,鈥 Petrella said. 鈥淪he was stunned and ended up scheduling a lesson. That鈥檚 networking, and that鈥檚 the kind of access Bobby creates for others.鈥
That spirit of connection is central to Sanabria鈥檚 personal philosophy: doing for others what his early mentors once did for him.
鈥淭he people that opened doors for me were these legendary musicians that saw something in me and called me for work,鈥 Sanabria said.
Through his teaching and performances, Sanabria illustrates how the arts teach value creation.
Unlike products, music and art can鈥檛 be sold on price alone, they invite people to see intrinsic worth. It鈥檚 a lesson relevant to students in all fields, not just the arts.
鈥淵ou鈥檙e always auditioning. And remember the two most important words in this business: thank you,鈥 Sanabria said.