Competition opens for young musicians

MEXICO — Young & Free Maine, a program created by the Maine Credit Union League, is asking to hear from Maine musicians ages 18-25 for their Second Annual "Sound Off" Music Competition.

"Sound Off" entrants must be between 18-25 years of age (in the case of bands, at least one member must be between 18-25), and must not be under a recording contract. Entrants will submit an audio or video recording of themselves singing or performing original music to a special page on the Young & Free Maine website, YoungFreeMaine.com.

From January 29 to February 7, the public will vote to choose the top five artists/or bands. A live performance audition for the finalists will take place on February 15. The Grand Prize winner will receive a package that consists of a full day recording session at Main Street Studio, Bangor.

The grand prize winner will also be awarded a spot to perform live on a main stage venue at the KahBang music festival, held in August. Prizes will also be awarded to the first and second runners up.

Oxford Federal Credit Union supports the Young & Free program and the Young & Free spokester, Kylie Keene, will be at the Free Ski & Tubing at Black Mountain on January 10, sponsored by Oxford Federal Credit Union. Kylie helps make sense of banking and money for the 18-25 crowd.

She writes a daily blog, is on twitter and Facebook as well as YouTube. Kylie will be available to talk to local Young & Free aged residents about money and how she is learning to make the most of her finances as a member of the Young & Free crowd herself.

As part of the Young & Free program, Oxford Federal Credit Union offers the Free4ME checking account. The checking account has no monthly fee, no per check charge, no minimum balance required, an Oops! Refund which allows members to have a service fee reversed twice per year and a $10 iTunes card for new account holders.

In addition, Free4ME account holders can take advantage of a Free Debit Card, Free Online and Mobile Banking, as well as Shared Branching, where members can access their accounts at other shared branching locations, currently 155 locations in Maine and 4,400 nationwide.