Trumpeter's passion earns global honor

www.newsok.com 2003-03-17 By Brittney Guest The Oklahoman

EDMOND -- When Carlos Sanchez was 6 years old, he attended a musical performance in his native country, Venezuela, that would cultivate a lifelong passion for one instrument.

The first time he heard it, he knew he liked the sound of the trumpet, and one week later, his father took him to a conservatory to begin lessons.

His passion has earned 14-year-old Sanchez, now a student at Bishop McGuinness High School in Oklahoma City, the Young Artist Award from the International Trumpet Guild.

The award is designed to recognize high school students for their talent and accomplishments with the trumpet, said James Klages, Sanchez's trumpet instructor and professor of trumpet at the University of Central Oklahoma.

Klages said Sanchez was chosen because of his age and the caliber of his performance.

However, there could be one more reason -- Sanchez plays in three college musical groups.

Although Sanchez is a member of the Oklahoma Youth Symphony, his participation in UCO's Jazz Band II, trumpet choir and summer concert band have set him apart and provided invaluable experience.

"People get confused because they think I go to the university, but I'm not," Sanchez said. "I go to high school."

Attending McGuinness, playing the trumpet three to four hours a day and performing across the country makes for a busy schedule for Sanchez.

Despite the schedule, Sanchez has found time to improve his English.

When Sanchez and his family came to Oklahoma to escape a failing economy and unemployment, he knew little English.

That barrier did not exist with the trumpet, and Klages said Sanchez is "confident" and "fearless."

However, playing continues to present him with challenges. Sanchez admits he still has much to learn about the trumpet.

Playing with the jazz band has given him the opportunity to expand his knowledge of the instrument, he said.

Jazz has taught him to improvise -- or invent music on the spot.

It is hard because knowledge of scales is needed to improvise, Sanchez said.

The scales are musical tones arranged in order of pitch.

Klages said Sanchez has a good sense of phrasing.

"He doesn't just play a series of notes," Klages said. "He takes a series of notes and makes a sentence. He's a musician."