By Peter Covino
Entertainment Editor

Enrique Sanchez won't be receiving a Grammy Award this year, but he will be part of the ceremonies.

But a Grammy Award might not be out of the question sometime in the future for the talented youngster, who has been selected to play in the Grammy Jazz Ensemble in Los Angeles during Grammy week in February.

Sanchez, 17, is a student at the Osceola County School for the Arts and has been playing trumpet since the sixth grade, so it doesn't come as any big surprise to those around him that he has a date in L.A. at the Grammys.

“I have seen him play since he was this high,” Osceola County School for the Arts band director Bill Henley said, gesturing to a point less than four feet above the ground. He was good then, but it is only in recent years that Henley knew the teenager had something special.

Playing the trumpet is literally in his blood. His father is also a musician and plays professionally in Central Florida under the name Ravelli.

Sanchez said he found out about the opportunity to be a part of the Grammy Awards and submitted his application online, which also required a musical submission of three songs.

“And then I got selected,” the Kissimmee high school senior said. “It was a pretty good surprise.”

His selection in the national competition means Sanchez won an all-expense paid, 10-day trip to the awards show, paid for by the Grammy organization. He is one of four trumpeters playing at the Grammys, where he will be sharing the lead position.

The Grammy trip is just the latest achievement in Sanchez' musical life. He has been first chair trumpet in the school's concert band and lead trumpet in the jazz band for most of his years at the school. He has been first chair/lead trumpet in All-County Concert and Jazz since seventh grade and has been in All-State bands since eighth grade. He made lead trumpet in the All-State Jazz Band in 2010 and 2011.

The 53rd Annual Grammy Awards will be at the Staples Center Sunday, Feb. 13, and will be telecast on CBS.

While the jazz band at the high school occupies much of his time, Sanchez does have an eye on the future. He hopes to get accepted at a prestigious school like The Julliard School in New York City.

It is one of the nation's premier schools for music, drama and dance.

“They don't take too many students, so to be accepted would be really great,” he said.

While Sanchez is getting most of the attention at the Osceola School for the Arts, Henley said the school's jazz band does a remarkable job and has a great sound.

“They all have a love for music and most have real dedication,” he said.

You can experience the music that Sanchez and his bandmates make at the school at the Holiday Extravaganza today and Friday at 7 p.m.

Tickets for the traditional musical celebration are $10-$35 and are available the day of the show and online at www.opac.tix.com or call 800- 595-4849. A 10-percent discount is available online using the discount code OSCEOLA.