O'Ree was selected from more than 4,000 undiscovered guitarists nationwide who participated in the four-tiered competition that began in February 2006. According to the 10 judges, which included Rick Neilson (Cheap Trick), Hubert Sumlin (Descriptor), Dave Mason (Traffic), and Marcy Levy (Eric Clapton), O'Ree excelled in the categories of originality, technique, style, stage presence and overall performance.