Musician Shawn Gonzalez Hosts Virtual Q&A With Students

The touring Dirty Heads keyboardist spoke with students at Rochester School for the Arts during his third virtual visit to Rochester City Schools.

Updated on Nov. 7, 2026 in Secondary Education

Screen-print poster illustration of a row of keyboard keys and a wooden stool against a warm cream field in mustard, teal, and rust. — Touring Dirty Heads keyboardist Shawn Gonzalez held his third virtual Q&A with students at Rochester School for the Arts this week. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

Shawn Gonzalez, a touring musician and keyboardist with the California-based band Dirty Heads, held a virtual Q&A session with students at Rochester School for the Arts on Wednesday. The session marked his third virtual visit to Rochester City Schools.

Why it matters

The visits extend a relationship that began with fundraising for district music programs, connecting Rochester students directly with a working professional musician. Gonzalez's involvement also ties into broader efforts to support arts education in the district.

The session was Gonzalez's third virtual visit to Rochester City Schools, and in 2018 he helped raise $10,000 for district music programs and new instruments. The number of students who attended the Wednesday session and any future visit schedule were not specified.

The players

Shawn Gonzalez

Gonzalez is a touring musician and keyboardist with the California-based band Dirty Heads, and he serves as director of Keeping The Blues Alive, the foundation of five-time Grammy nominee Joe Bonamassa.

Benjamin Rybolt

Rybolt is an instructor and moderator at SOTA who participated in the virtual session with students.

The details

Gonzalez held the Q&A session virtually with students at Rochester School for the Arts, where Benjamin Rybolt, an instructor and moderator at SOTA, was involved in the program. Gonzalez also directs Keeping The Blues Alive, the foundation of five-time Grammy nominee Joe Bonamassa.

2018: Gonzalez partnered with House of Guitars, Distillery Restaurants, Visions Federal Credit Union and local businesses to raise $10,000 for Rochester City Schools music programs.
Wednesday, November 4, 2026: Gonzalez hosted a virtual Q&A session with SOTA students.

Big Picture

Gonzalez's visits build on the Keeping The Blues Alive foundation's educational mission, which he directs alongside Joe Bonamassa. The sessions continue a pattern of musician-led arts outreach that began with the 2018 fundraising effort for district music programs.

Rochester students at the arts-focused school gained direct access to a working professional musician through the virtual session. The ongoing visits and past instrument funding mean music programs in Rochester City Schools continue to receive outside support.

The takeaway

Direct contact with working musicians can give students a clearer view of professional music careers. Schools seeking similar outreach can look to repeat partnerships that connect local businesses and musicians to classroom programs.