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Photo: Courtesy of Pixabay.com
The haunting sound of a violin resonates in the air as you are waiting for the next train. The tune is familiar but you can’t place it. Maybe you heard it in an old movie or as the backing track of a classy car commercial. Either way, it sticks. The person playing is avidly focused on the task at hand, eyes closed tightly, their head swaying to the rhythm.
Performances like these are found frequently throughout the city’s subway tunnels. These artists are affectionately known as buskers. Each year, the Music Under New York (MUSIC) program holds an audition at Grand Central Station by invitation only. While any one musician or group can apply for a tryout, only about 60 hopefuls will be approved to showcase their talent at the live audition. Among those judging the performances are music industry reps and fellow musicians.
In 2015, MUSIC added 26 new performers to the already 300 plus acts in the program. These acts cover a multitude of cultural and musical genres including varying drum routines, an Inca music group, doo wop groups and opera singers. Combined, these musicians play over 7500 performances every year and are strategically placed around the city in approximately 30 different, high volume locations. Visit here for more information about the artists, performance locations, and auditions.
-by James Baginski