Welcome to the OkMEA “The Collective” page!

*The Collective* is OkMEA’s creative, genre-crossing ensemble that celebrates originality, collaboration, and expression. We welcome vocalists, instrumentalists, rappers, producers, beat makers, MCs, and other performers working in contemporary, popular, or hybrid musical styles.

For more information, watch the

OSDE Fine Arts Professional Learning Series Meeting with Bryan Powell and Katy Brodhead

Important Financial Information

1. All application fees must be paid by credit card, check, or purchase order by the associated entry deadline.
2. Applications without a payment on file by the first deadline will automatically be charged the second deadline fee.
3. Applications without a payment on file by the second deadline will have the opportunity to pay emergency deadline fees.
4. Applications without a payment on file by the emergency deadline will be removed from consideration for the ensemble.

Additional Information:

• All Emergency Fees must be paid by credit card only.
• Purchase orders are a valid form of payment for entries.
• Schools paying by PO will be invoiced by the OkMEA Office and final payment will be due upon receipt.

Vendor Information
OkMEA
Attn: Popular Music Collective
PO Box 886
Muskogee, OK, 74402

Click here to download a W9 for your financial office!

Collective Ensemble Information

Audition Component 1 – Performance of Classic Cover or Solo (no more than 1 minute)

• Perform or submit a recording of approximately one minute from a song or solo by one of the following classic artists:
  • Aretha Franklin, Black Sabbath, Fleetwood Mac, Jimi Hendrix, Heart, Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, Queen, Stevie Wonder, The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, The Who, or Tina Turner
• This part helps us assess your musical skill, stylistic fluency, and performance approach. You may reinterpret the music in your own style—this could include:
  • Rapping a verse over a sampled or looped beat from one of these artists
  • Performing a guitar solo, vocal line, or drum groove from the original
  • Producing a short beat using elements of a listed artist’s track (e.g., chord progression, rhythmic feel, or sample)
• Choose something that shows your skill level and musical personality.

Audition Component 2 – Original Work (no more than 1 minute)

Submit an original piece that you created—this could be a song, beat, instrumental, rap, or hybrid track.

• Vocalists and Rappers can:
  • Perform an original song, verse, or hook
  • Showcase vocal style, flow, phrasing, and lyric writing
• Instrumentalists (guitar, bass, keys, etc.) can:
  • Perform a short original groove, riff, or progression 
  • Play a chord progression with melodic ideas
  • Play an original solo (improvised or prepared)
• Drummers can:
  • Perform an original solo or groove
  • Demonstrate multiple styles
  • Play through a form with fills
• Producers/Beat Makers can:
  • Submit a beat or track they’ve produced
  • Make sure to  include a description of session notes (form, instrumentation, samples used, etc) explaining your creative contributions

This part highlights your creativity and musical instincts. It doesn’t need to be complex—just show how you create musically in your own voice.

Audition Component 3 – Add Your “Voice” (Add Something Interesting to an Existing Track)

This portion shows your ability to respond musically and contribute something new to existing musical material.

• Choose from provided backing tracks (Rock Option 1 or Hip Hop Option 2), develop and refine the part that you will add (it is not required to be improvised) and submit a video of you performing in a way that fits your medium:
  • Instrumental solo or ensemble/rhythm/accompaniment part (guitar, bass, keys, etc.)
  • Rap or Vocal line
  • Layered loops or triggered beats over the track
      – Live remixing or creative reinterpretation using your production tools

This part is flexible—show us how you think and react musically.

Rock Option 1 Tracks:

• Leadsheet
• Rock Option 1 Audition Track for Vocalists and Instrumentalists (Guitarists, Bassists, and Drummers – use the tracks below)
  • Audition Track for Guitars
  • Audition Track for Bassists
  • Audition Track for Drummers

Hip Hop Option 2:

• There is not a leadsheet for this option. Rather, those who choose Option 2 will simply create and record original material over the provided track.
• Producers and beatmakers may choose to utilize the tracks from one or both options, adding to or sampling the recordings.
• Option 2 Audition Track