NATCHEZ &045;&045; Cornell Brent is taking his future into his own hands.

The 16-year-old Natchez High freshman, who has a love for singing and dancing, began browsing the Internet a while back to find a way to get noticed.

And he succeeded. Over spring break Brent received a call from MTV for an interview. The interview led to Brent’s upcoming trip to Orlando, Fla. where he will compete in a national competition called Fashion Rock.

&uot;People always talked about me saying I couldn’t do it,&uot; Brent said. &uot;But that just put more pressure on me to do it. I’m serious about what I’m doing.&uot;

In Orlando Brent will compete in the vocalist competition for his age group while meeting industry professionals and famous musicians. Brent will have a chance to receive over $100,000 in the form of a Fashion Rock contract. More than 100 agencies will be present at the competition.

&uot;I’m going to try my best to win,&uot; he said. &uot;I’ll put all my confidence in myself.&uot;

Brent got his start in the performance world as a child when his brother taught him the moonwalk. From there Brent taught himself a variety of other dances and began writing songs at age 10. He also acted in a local commercial. Dancing was something he always knew he could do but was afraid to share with others until junior high.

After a junior high school pep rally where Brent was chosen to dance in front of the whole school, the ice was broken.

&uot;People started jumping and screaming,&uot; Brent said. &uot;Ever since then I just do it. When I dance, I seem like I’m gliding across the floor.&uot;

With confidence in his dancing skills as a ninth-grader Brent turned his focus to his voice. As a freshman he joined the NHS choir and began learning the right way to sing, Choir Director Joyce Arceneaux said.

&uot;Over the holidays his voice kicked in,&uot; Arceneaux said. &uot;His voice is coming along as he learns vocal techniques.&uot;

To prepare for the Fashion Rock competition Brent is spending extra time after school working with Arceneaux on things like breathing, enunciation and unification of vowels.

&uot;He’s interested, energetic and initiating most of this,&uot; Arceneaux said. &uot;The big thing is going to be the experience he gets.&uot;

Though Brent has done a lot of work to ensure his own success, he said he hasn’t been alone. &uot;My mom said ‘If you make something out of yourself I’ll help get you there,’&uot; Brent said. &uot; She’s worked hard every day and night and weekends to send me.&uot;

The trip to Orlando will cost about $2,000. Delphine Brent said she has been trying to work as much overtime as possible to fund the trip.

&uot;Every mother loves their child and this may be a chance for him to get exposed,&uot; she said. &uot;I feel like he’s got a pretty good chance.&uot;

Delphine Brent said she still lacks about $700 to fund the trip but was going to do everything she could in the next few weeks to earn the money.

&uot;We are going to go and try to have a good time and represent Natchez,&uot; Delphine Brent said.

Brent and his mother leave for Orlando on May 22. The competition will end on May 31.