Natchez &8212; Alcorn State University music student Derrick Young has been invited to attend the International Scholar Laureate Program Delegation on Music in the spring.

The 10-day program will take students through Central and Eastern Europe, &8220;where classical music had its beginnings,&8221; the second-year vocal performance major said.

A native of St. Louis, Mo., Young has a few challenges to meet in order to accept the invitation to be a music delegate, most of them related to raising the money required for the trip, scheduled for May 21 through June 2.

&8220;We&8217;ll travel throughout Austria, including Salzburg, the birthplace of Mozart,&8221; Young said. &8220;We&8217;ll be studying and attending performances, formal and informal.&8221;

Students will have opportunities to perform, as well, Young said.

Dr. David Blackburn, music professor at Alcorn and director of the Alcorn Concert Choir, of which Young is a member, said opportunities to broaden their horizons have proven life-changing for students.

&8220;We had a member of the choir who traveled last summer, and she came back a different person,&8221; Blackburn said. &8220;Derrick is a very talented young man with a vision and a goal. He wants to go out and improve himself.&8221;

Natchez Little Theatre patrons will remember Young from two productions in 2005. He played the role of Jim in the musical &8220;Big River&8221; and portrayed Bob Cratchit in &8220;A Natchez Christmas Carol.&8221;

Anyone who wants to help Young make the trip may e-mail him at

d_young84@yahoo.com

for more information.