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 The auditions, attracting players of classical music,
cabaret, opera, blues, reggae and even cartoon tunes, are hosted
by the city's Metropolitan Transportation Authority to select
performers allowed to play, or busk, in subway stations from
Times Square to Yankee Stadium.
The conditions may be raw and the acoustics tricky, but the
underground venue is like no other, the striving musicians said.
"It's a direct link into people's everyday lives," said
Sebastian Lopez, 27, an accordion player auditioning with his
pan-Latin band Yotoco.
"It's a way to share our music with people in a very casual
environment and kind of surprise them as they're going about
their daily lives," he said.
A panel of artists, transit officials and others judge the music
for quality, variety and appropriateness, the MTA said. About 70
musicians or groups tried out and a third of them will get
picked, it said.
While musicians are allowed to play in the city subways if they
follow MTA rules, these winners get choice spots and support
from the MTA's Music Under New York program.
"I'm excited about the exposure that it would allow us to have,
meeting new people and finding new places to perform," said Judy
Minkoff, 36, the leader of an all-female a cappella group called
Stiletta.
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New Yorkers get the benefit of good music, said Gregory Morgan, a
35-year-old drummer with the Sunnyside Social Club jazz band.
Average weekday ridership on the subway system is 5.6 million,
according to the MTA.
"The world needs more good food and good music. When you have those
two, everyone's happy," Morgan said.
Jazz vocalist Frank Senior, a blind musician waiting to audition
with his guide dog at his side, said performing in the subways is
something he has always wanted to do.
"It's a good way to spread love, spread some positivity around the
city," the 62-year-old said.
Musicians said they could not estimate how much they might make.
Participating in Music Under New York is free.
"In my experience with busking, the less you think about the money,
the better you do," Morgan said. "You just put your heart and soul
into it and hopefully people will respond."
(Editing by Doina Chiacu)
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