Subway Musicians

Getting to work on the subway might mean being treated to a lively a cappella doo-wop rendition of "Under the Boardwalk" or listening to a 15th-century hymn sung by more than a dozen singers or hearing the ghostly warble of a musical saw. In New York, subways aren't only a means of transportation, they're also a concert hall for dedicated musicians to battle it out with the roar of the trains to woo the toughest audience in the world.

Some performers seek the sanction of the MTA's Music Under New York program, and if they pass their audition before a panel of judges, they're given a banner to perform under and a weekly gig schedule at one of the prime subway stations around town.

But not every artiste goes that route; there are plenty who march to a different drummer, and perform where and when they want. And as long as they're not blocking the way or being too loud, they can serenade New York to their hearts' content.

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