The Metropolitan Transit Authority is set to announce the winners of the Music Under New York auditions. On May 1, 55 musicians and musical groups auditioned for the chance to
perform in the subway.

From this group, a panel of judges selected 23 ensembles, whose names were announced yesterday but I can’t seem to find that list.

The winning acts are supposed to represent a variety of styles, cultural bacgrounds and instruments. They will be able to perform on the subway legally.

Looking for the MTA list, I did, however, find this cool blog, Saw Lady’s Blog, which documents the life of a NYC subway musician and musical saw player.

Go to her blog to read about the musicians at the audition. There are great pictures, too. Here is an excerpt:

The annual Music Under New York audition attracts a lot of media – many newspapers and TV news shows have reported on it.

One reputable newspaper reported that:

“…was among 200 people who applied for this spring’s auditions, about 70 of whom were selected to play Thursday before a panel of 40 judges that included music industry professionals and transit employees. The judges were looking for perhaps 20 people to add to the subway soundtrack’s current roster…”

Actually, it was 230 people who applied, 55 of whom were selected to
audition in front of a panel of 20 judges. 25 to 30 people will be
chosen to join Music Under New York…

Of course the exact details in reporting on the Music Under New York
audition are not important, but it just makes me think how many details
newspapers get wrong in other subjects, and we believe everything they
say because they are a reputable newspaper…

Musicians who have passed the preliminary audition, which is by
recording, are invited to audition live at Grand Central Station. The
usual venue for the audition, Vanderbilt Hall, was unavailable due to
construction, so the audition took place at the North East balcony
instead (which is actually where I auditioned more than a decade ago).