2012 Music Under NY auditions clip

The annual Music Under NY auditions are fast approaching (deadline for 2013 applications must be postmarked by March 20th). Here's a clip I made from last year.  The audition is a wonderful NY experience and if you are available be sure to drop by Grand Central Terminal Monday May 13th from 9am-3:30pm in Vanderbilt Hall.  this clip will give you a peak into what you might find.

2012 Music Under New York auditions were held May 16, 2012.  As a MUNY artist I was asked to be a judge. I captured the event and I asked my favorite question, "what's your inspiration?" Here's what I heard:

- NY Guitar Festival artistic director and judge David Spelman: "the sounds of NY, I never wear an ipod, there's too many wonderful sounds in NYC ..the wild polyphony of mayhem that we hear all around is inspiration."

- Music Under NY violinist Ebony Hillbillies and judge Henrique Prince : "Life, …art, that music can allow you to be different all the time that you can keep growing until the last minute, and you can get better and better, how many things in life are like that except.. food."

- Music Under NY artist and volunteer Jahstix: "Life + possibility of magic at every moment, + the goodness and love."

- Auditionee and accordionist Melissa Elledge: "feeling grateful that I'm in a city that I can make a living  doing what I want to do." Update: since her audition, now now a MUNY artist.

- award winning recording artist and judge Dane Zanes: "I felt that I was part of the NY musical overground."

- Music Under NY classical guitarist and judge Don Witter Jr. "music making and the boldness of young people who believe in what they are doing and do it."

- documentary filmmaker, 78 Project and judge Alex Styermark:  "authenticity and people who are just trying to make the most out of what they've got."

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2013 MUNY applications due March 20th

It's that time again for the annual Music Under New York auditions held once annually.  

Follow the information and applications postmarked by March 20th

Music Under New York

Auditions

Every Spring, Music Under New York (MUNY) presents a day of auditions in Grand Central Terminal to review and add new performers to the MUNY roster. This year, MUNY held its annual auditions in May on the Northeast Balcony of the Grand Central Terminal. Here are some photos captured during the audition.

Application Process

To obtain an Audition Application Form, which is available January through March, please contact MUNY at 212-878-4678 or print it from the MUNY website.

To join MUNY, musicians and performers must apply for the auditions and submit a package of information, which includes the MUNY Audition Application form. To obtain an Audition Application form, which is available January through March, please contact MUNY at 212-878-4678 or print it from the MUNY website. For consideration, please prepare a package with the completed Application Form, a sample of your performance on CD or DVD and/or optional items such as a bio, resume, press clippings or reviews and mail it to:

MTA MUSIC UNDER NEW YORK
341 Madison Avenue, 5th Fl.
New York, NY 10017

The Audition application packages are due in the MUNY office no later than March 20th.

All performers are welcome to apply for the audition. Packages will be reviewed and approximately 60 eligible performers will be contacted and invited to perform at the auditions, which are held live, one-day only, and open to public. A panel of professionals, consisting of representatives from the music industry, cultural institutions, MTA station operations, fellow musicians and others, will judge each of the five minute performances during the audition based on the criteria of quality, variety, and appropriateness for the mass transit environment.

here's a clip I made of the 2011 auditions:

Post Sandy info

You can follow their Transit Tracker to see what commuter lines are working.

Here's info from the MTA regarding what commuters lines are open.

If you're a subway musician, I'd love to hear if you're okay, and if you have gotten out to perform yet.

Take care

Day 3 No subway gig today

with only some transit service running and my apartment still without power I am unable to perform again today.  Here's more updates from MTA be safe.

MTA Service Advisory

 

Limited Fare Free Service To Be Restored On Subways, Full Service Rolls on Buses

Subway service will be limited Thursday, due to ongoing water remediation, infrastructure repairs and power related problems. Limited service will operate along parts of several routes between The Bronx, Upper Manhattan and Midtown. Other lines will run in parts of Queens and Brooklyn, with service terminating in Downtown Brooklyn. Shuttle Bus service will be available at Jay St - MetroTech, Atlantic Ave - Barclays Center and Hewes St in Williamsburg to 57th St and Lexington Ave in Midtown Manhattan. See Bus Stops in Manhattan.

The restoration of subway service was made possible by the hard work of hundreds of Transit Workers who inspected miles of track, removing debris that washed into the system, dried out components and made necessary repairs. In other parts of the system heavy duty pump trains continue to evacuate thousands of gallons of water that filled 7 underwater tunnels. Station Environment crews removed and repaired canopies on elevated stations ripped off by Sandy's strong gusts, while cleaners removed debris. Track Workers checked rails for damage while Signal Maintainers inspected and tested equipment that was submerged under water. Electronic Mchecked critical electrical systems, including crucial communications equipment. 

Late Wednesday night, the system was energized and 3rd Rail power was restored. During the night crews will begin running trains throughout the system to polish rials and ensure there are no track or other component defects before service begins.

Because subway service will be limited to roughly half of the system's subway lines, waits will be longer and trains will be more crowded. Customers are advised to consider changing their normal routines to travel later in the morning or later in the evening.

See Hurricane Recovery Subway Map

Bus service will be operating on a near normal weekday schedule.  Some routes may be operating with minor detours due to street conditions, customers are advised to look for signage at bus stops. Customers should also expect longer waits and crowded conditions.

Click Borough names for PDF maps:

Manhattan

Bronx

Brooklyn

Queens

Staten Island

MTA service down

October 31, 2012 update, no trains or subway until further notice.  MTA website is only available for service information

-Stay Tuned: We'll be back stronger than ever, that's what New York is all about.  Resilience!

follow these links for important information from our municipalities and state government:

 New York State official website

 New York City website

 New Jersey State website

 Connecticut State Website

no subway service Storm Sandy aftermath

UPDATE Tuesday 11:50 AM: The latest on MTA and NYC transportation:

Some bus service will begin at 5 p.m. on a Sunday schedule.

There is no timetable yet for subway service resumption. Governor Andrew Cuomo and MTA Chairman Joe Lhota said in a joint press conference Tuesday morning they hope to have full bus service restored Wednesday morning. No fares will be charged through Wednesday.

Portions of subway service will return in pieces as it is able. Buses will be used to connect fractured sections.

Flooding could keep east river crossings shut for some time. The Clark, Steinway, Rutgers and Strawberry Street tubes under the East River are all flooded. Lhota said pumps are clearing the Joralemon Street tube and will have it dry in a few hours.

No buses or trains were damaged because of effective shut down preparations. Assessment of the extent of the damage on the tracks “will take a little bit more time than we thought,” Lhota said.

Lhotoa said flooding at the South Street subway station was “literally up to the ceiling.”  this is the station I go to to get to Staten Island Ferry terminal for my gigs.

Pumping is underway in the Battery Tunnel.

Metro-North has no power from 59th Street to Croton.

newbies of MUNY announced

this year's auditions in Vanderbilt Hall of Grand Central were full of musical talent. I truly enjoyed judging this year.  Here's who got in, so when you pass them on your way to work or play say Hi and congratulate them. WNYC our amazing public radio station is calling for video and photo submissions of your favorite subway performer.  I know of so many fantastic performers, you pass them every day, next time take a clip or a pic. follow the link and submit. 

Welcome new Music Under New York musicians

here's a nice recap of the auditions from WNYC's Abbie Fentress Swanson

and check out the great pics of auditions by Rob Wilson on the MTA tumblr page

2012 AUDITIONS New MUNY Members

Acapella Soul Male acapella

Afrikumba Utibe Drummers Drum ensemble

Aria Eclectic vocal & guitar duo

Petula Beckles Gospel/ jazz singer songwriter

R. M. Bridgewell Guitar, Mozart to Metallica

Allan Chapman Guitar & vocals, originals & covers

Chicken Barn Heros Bluegrass trio  

Jason Cordero Piano, romantic classical 

Keith Dorgan Vibraphone & bass duo

Melissa Elledge Accordion, classics to originals

Holliewood Ft. Venor Alternative hip hop duo

Emily Hopkins Harp, classical to pop

Atsumi Ishibashi & Robin’s Egg Blue Guitar & duo, pop/folk

Richie Kaye Music Jazz duo

Karikatura Latin, gypsy, ska, reggae fusion band

Leah Laurenti R&B/ jazz singer

Buster Marengo Piano, classical 

Mariachi Flor de Toloache Female mariachi band

Jeff Masin One man band

Caesar Passée Steel drums

Matt Pless Singer songwriter

Ryutaro Shibuya Guitar, contemporary jazz

Nadine Simmons Pop/ Gospel singer

Charles Tighe Handpan player

Washington Square Winds Wind quintet 

MTA clip of 2012 auditions

check out the clip made by MTA's Joseph Chan, nice that I had the chance to be interviewed by Joe.

The auditions are really a true NYC experience. All I can say is that although I'm exhausted (I was a judge), I'm exhilarated by the talent and the dedication of the 33 volunteer judges that heard 70 acts over 6 hours. The MTA Arts For Transit and Music Under New York program is as important as any musical institution or museum, it's a treasure.

Music Under New York annual auditions

2012 MUNY auditions. Getting ready for this years annual Music Under New York auditions. For the past few years they have been held in the upper balcony of Grand Central Station with a wonderful view down to the main hall. Now the balcony is an Apple store, so this year the auditions have returned to the illustrious grand Vanderbilt Hall in the station. That's where I had my audition in 1999, and t he acoustics alone are worth going for the price of admission=FREE. 

Hope to see you there.

Here's a little idea of what you can expect, NYCSubwayGirl style, as the 2011 clip I enjoyed getting more of the behind the scenes perspective.

Thula Sizwe Inspired the commuters

While performing at SI ferry terminal, a group arrived with some gorgeous large African drums, colorful shirts and warm glowing smiles. They came over and performed a song for people awaiting the 3:30 ferry. Little by little the crowds drew closer until they filled the area in front of the group. This clip is an excerpt and I could only film from my vantage point (I still had my guitar on and was frozen in my feet with amazement).

I later learned the group Thula Sizwe was in America thanks to a wonderful organization Bridges Of Peace and Hope.

Enjoy.

What's Your Inspiration?

Bridges of Peace and Hope is an international network of teachers, students, and friends collaborating on creative, arts in education projects that promote respect, understanding, and communication. You can like them on facebook

2012 Diva's Underground March 29th

March 29, 12noon-7pm    14 Street/Union Square

Union SQuare 14th Street subway station above N/R line will have a very exciting event of women performers of the Music Under NY program throughout the day. check out the line-up and come and support live music in public spaces:

* Divas Underground: In celebration of Women’s History Month, Music Under New York’s divas will perform a marathon concert with some dedications to the beloved divas Etta James, Amy Winehouse, and Whitney Houston, whom we have lost recently.

12:00-12:30     Wendy Sayvetz  ­www.abacaproductions.com

12:30- 1:10     Arlethia   www.arlethiagospel.com

1:10- 1:50       Lindsay Dragan www.Lindsaydragan.com  www.Wearesunshowers.com

1:50- 2:20       Marcella Adame

2:20- 3:00       Heidi Kole   http://www.thesubwaydiaries.com/

3:00- 3:40       Martine Bruno  www.martinabruno.com

3:40- 4:20       Cathy Grier  www.nycsubwaygirl.com

4:20- 5:20       Left on Red  www.leftonredmusic.com

5:20- 6:00       Samantha Margulies   www.samanthamargulies.com

6:00- 7:00       SisterMonk  www.sistermonk.com

DIVAS 2011

Samantha Margulies Music Under New York performer (Opera, Broadway + Pop singer).

Divas 2010

2012 MUNY audition applications

MUNY audition applications must be in by March 19th

The Music Under New York annual auditions are coming up soon.  If you are a musician and are interested you still have time to get your application in.

MUNY Audition information 

Application form

And as a commuter, if you ever want a really wonderful NY experience I urge you to go to Grand Central Station this Spring for the annual Music Under NY auditions.  I'll be posting the exact date once I know it.

Don't forget to tell a street/subway performer how much you appreciate their presence underground!

Newbies of MUNY announced

Here's a reprint from WNYC's Music Hub

MTA Announces Next Class of Subway Buskers

Wednesday, June 01, 2011

By Marlon Bishop : WNYC Culture Producer

• 

  The Lost and Wandering Blues Band are one of the acts chosen to join the Music Under New York program (Marlon Bishop/WNYC)

Coming soon to a subway station near you: a Japanese mandolin player playing Italian classics, Baroque harp music, and a full blown Afro-jazz group. They're just some of the 19 individuals and groups chosen by the MTA's Music Under New York (MUNY) program to join the roster of musicians officially sanctioned to perform underground.

Last week, 68 groups tried out for the program in front of a panel of judges culled from New York's cultural scene in an alcove of Grand Central Terminal. The new acts will join about 350 sanctioned groups already in the program. Although anybody can play in the subway legally, MUNY artists can display official banners, use amplification, and have dibs on some of the best and busiest spots underground.

Check out the list of the winning artists below -- or listen to what one of the winners, the Lost And Wandering Blues Band, sounded like at the MUNY auditions last week.

ListenAddEmbed

• Marcella Louise Adame (opera singer)
• Harold Allen (country singer)
• Brazilian Quarter (Brazilian & New Orleans music)
• Lindsay Dragan (singer songwriter and guitarist)
• Meta Joy Epstein (Baroque harpist)
• Erik Hegar (contemporary and classical harpist)
• Keizo Ishibashi (Italian mandolin player)
• Tom Larsen (guitarist and singer songwriter)
• Lost Wandering Blues & Jazz Band (swing band)
• Mike Lunapiena (cellist improvisation)
• Metro Brass Quintet (classical, pop, jazz)
• MetropoliTones (female a capella)
• Eric Reimers (classical & Argentinean guitarist)
• Ron Service (saxophonist)
• The Body Electric (Afro-beat jazz ensemble)
• The Connections (Motown, R&B duo)
• Threeds (Oboe trio)
• Matt Vorzimer (electro improvisation)
• Christopher Worth (contemporary & traditional singer)

Several of the artists chosen, including Tom Larsen and the Body Electric, are featured in the audition video below produced by the MUNY staff.

reprinted from Music Hub by Marlon Bishop WNYC Culture Producer

2011 Music Under NY auditions

May 17, 2011. The annual Music Under New York (MUNY) auditions is such a wonderful event from every perspective. For the organizers and judges, it is a long day, but well worth the effort.  For the performers, it's a chance to perform for some pretty wonderful judges chosen from the amazing cultural fabric that makes up NY. Of course there are always MUNY artists on hand as volunteers and as judges too.  I have been a judge in the past and have found it an interesting role to play.  

In this clip booking agent Gus Rodriguez comments how even though talented, not every performer is the right fit for the program, and so his judging needs to be extra careful in his notes for the MUNY directors who will have to read through all the judging notes and choose. Judge and Joe's Pub director Shanta Thake's inspiration is "Seeing people do what they love."

Music Under New York auditions 2011

I went to this years 2011 auditions held at Grand Central Station.  It was fun just being a spectator instead of a judge as I have been in previous years. Many of this years judges were MUNY artists and seeing them outside of a performance setting is unique and fun-Jesse Selengut from Tin Pan, Sean Grissom the Cajun cellist, Kelly and Liah from Left on Red, Wendy Sayvetz, Irving Louis Lattin, and Floyd Lee.

Don't want to forget to mention the other MUNY artists on hand as volunteers to help the auditionees get checked in and setup. Natalia Paruz the Saw Lady, Angel Marin, and Nicola. It's always great to see Gina and Tim Higginbotham overseeing the event. It's a long day 9:30-3:30 with non-stop artists. There were some really great groups and solo artists.  I was happy to see a few I've already seen perform in the subway without the MUNY banner, and hope they'll make the cut. Grand Central station is such an iconic place, hearing the voices and music resonate throughout the hall is quite an experience.

For anyone who missed the once a year opportunity to audition, there is always next May. Stay tuned.

annual MUNY auditions

Not to be missed, for a truly unique NYC experience Music Under New York Annual Auditions

• Tuesday May 17th 9:30 am- 3:30 pm

It's such a wonderful event, stop by to take a listen to the approximately 65 artists who will be auditioning!

Grand Central Station Northeast Balcony, take escalators up from main terminal, you can't miss hearing it!

NYCSubwayGirl clip from the Music Under New York 2010 auditions where she was judge. Following Carl Kriss documantarian who was creating a film on NYC Subway Performers (entitled "Give and Take"). and with MUNY artist volunteers Meghan McGeary from Dagmar, Sean Grisson the Cajun Cellist, Jesse Selengut from Tin Pan, Irving Louis Latin, Natalia Paruz the Saw Lady, Juan Castillo from Andes Fusion, Angel Marin from Aqua Clara and MC Bob Helman.

Grand Central Station

smile, smile, smiles

Lately I've been thinking a lot about why I perform in public spaces.  As the weather gets better, (at least no longer intensely cold and slippery) performances have less of an outward bound experience and more of a cozy hang.  I am reminded why this type of entertaining is so compelling to me.  Chat with most street/subway performers and one thing will shortly pop out of their mouths-how much smiles are an integral part of our experience.  To make people smile. To be smiled at, could there be nothing more pure and a deeply perfect part of the human experience?

My songs in public spaces aren't rushed like the commuters needing to get to where they're going.  Or precisely calibrated for a concert stage. Songs are interrupted, shortened, abruptly stopped or strangely 3x longer than usual.  It doesn't matter as the experience for the most part is new every few seconds.  It's liquid, elastic and malleable. What I say is, "it's not precious."  Meaning I can do what I want when I want.  As I sing I can even interrupt myself.  I might comment on someone walking by with a huge bouquet of flowers...."are those for me?"  Or a Double Bass rolling past like a strange creature....."I could use a Double Bass on this groove right now."  To say Hi to a child whose curiosity draws them closer to take a listen. Or cut short my singing and mark time with my guitar while a noisy express train rushes past and pick up with the vocal exactly where I left off in time for people to not miss a beat (now that's a fun exercise).  And people love to chat when they can, that's how I began filming my series "What's Your Inspiration?" for this website.  People feel at ease to stop and chat and many times while I'm still playing.  Hey this is NY folks, and we're comfortable jumping right in whether it's in the middle of a song or not.  The gems I hear.  The things people have to say. Here's a few comments I've heard:

"What inspires me? Beauty in small things we take for granted." Karim, Manhattan

"Music is in my soul, I get goose-bumps, I feel heightened.  Maybe if people had the right music they’d be happier." Ester, Manhattan

"Not have to go to a job I hate every morning, inspires me." Kayra, Queens

What's Omnia, from Staten Island inspiration? "The people that commute, the dedication and obligation to take 2 trains and a boat." 

So the next time you're rushing by and can't stop, no worries, I understand.  and if you can, stop by and share why you appreciate music in public spaces.

And as John from the fun group Xylopholks says, "someone walking by might be thinking one thing and thought otherwise thanks to the music." That's inspirational.

Divas underground march 17th all day

Thursday March 17th all day @ Union SQuare 14th Street below Pavilion entrance.

For an amazing experience come hear the women of Music Under New York

here's a clip from last year's event

MUSIC UNDER NEW YORK///Station: 14^th STREET/UNION SQUARE

Thursday  March 17, 2011     ‘DIVAS UNDERGROUND’ 

TIME	PERFORMER
12:00- 12:45	Wendy Sayvetz  Folk, traditional & Bway www.abacaproductions.com
12:45- 1:45	Arlethia, Gospel   www.arlethiagospel.com
1:45- 2:30	Samantha Margulies, Opera & Broadway  www.samanthamargulies.com
2:30- 3:15	Natalie Gelman, singer songwriter  www.nataliegelman.com
3:15- 4:00	Cathy Grier, ‘folked-up blues’ www.nycsubwaygirl.com
4:00- 4:45	Martine Bruno, Popera   www.martinabruno.com
4:45- 5:30	Heidi,  Singer songwriter www.thesubwaydiaries.com
5:30- 6:15	Grace Love, soul singer  www.gracelovemusic.com
6:15- 8:00	Nicola, Rock/Pop singer songwriter www.nicolanicola.com
8:00- 8:45	Jami Jackson,  R&B singer songwriter  www.jamijackson.net

14 Street/ Union Square…the south side of the Union Square, between the N/R/W uptown, downtown stairs… 

here's a clip from last year's event

Update on Friday, March 18, 2011 at 11:23PM by NYC Subway Girl

Music Under New York's DIVAS UNDERGROUND
March 17th 2011. I was able to catch a few of the other women artists of MUNY, Samantha Margulies, Natalie Gelman and Martine Bruno to share with you.

MUNY audition applications in by March 17th

The Music Under New York annual auditions are coming up soon.  If you are a musician and are interested you still have time to get your application in.

MUNY Audition application 

And as a commuter, if you ever want a really wonderful NY experience I urge you to go to Grand Central Station this Spring for the annual Music Under NY auditions.  I'll be posting the exact date once I know it.

Don't forget to tell a street/subway performer how much you appreciate their presence underground!

Also, Divas Underground @ Union Square this year is Thursday March 17th all day women artists from Music Under NY perform at Union SQuare 14th Street below Pavilion entrance.

check back for the full schedule, if you want to have an amazing experience try and get over to Union SQ and catch the women of Music Under NY.

here's a clip from last year's event

I start back in cozy comfort

It's been an interesting winter break due to all the snow and so many cold days. I wrote, took time to work with my two now 8 month old pups and shoveled a lot of snow (my back isn't so happy about it). But I keep thinking of my subway performing friends who have kept going. If you're reading this I'd love to get some perspective on what it's like to perform this winter with so many snow days, slush and ice.

Tomorrow I return to perform and  I'm thrilled to start off in cozy radiant heated Staten Island Ferry terminal, AND it's above ground with window views of the NY Harbor. 

• Thursday February 10th 3pm-6pm

Whitehall station Staten Island Ferry

Staten Island Ferry terminal (manhattan side)  It's a great inside spot where commuters have to wait for the ferry, so I’ve got a great crowd to perform to.