NEW YORK—Musicians and ensembles vied for highly coveted spots on the Music Under New York (MUNY) roster at the 24th annual auditions in Grand Central Terminal on Tuesday.
Only 20 new performers will be added to the current roster of more then 350 individuals and groups who present 7,500 weekly performances in 25 transit locations.
A panel including musicians, music and performing arts professionals, and MTA representatives assessed the musicians based on quality, variety, and how well they would harmonize with a bustling transit environment.
“Music and art create a welcoming, friendly, and even fun environment; bringing humanity and spirit to New Yorkers every day,” said MTA chairman Jay H. Walder in a press release.
Tricia Davis, a pop and R & B singer shared her thoughts, “I felt good, the judges smiled, they were very inviting and kind-looking, not very intimidating, so I felt comfortable.” She usually performs at events like weddings and birthdays. Her mom found out about the auditions and Tricia was selected after submitting a video.
There was a diverse selection of instruments like the Chinese erhu, Baroque harp, and Appalachian Dulcimer. Genres included folk, classical, blues, and opera.
An example of the diverse offerings was Brazilian Quarter, an ensemble that played Brazilian/New Orleans music. They featured a variety of instruments including the pandeiro (Brazilian tambourine), tuba, clarinet, piccolo, trombone, and bandolim (Brazilian mandolin).
Only 20 new performers will be added to the current roster of more then 350 individuals and groups who present 7,500 weekly performances in 25 transit locations.
A panel including musicians, music and performing arts professionals, and MTA representatives assessed the musicians based on quality, variety, and how well they would harmonize with a bustling transit environment.
“Music and art create a welcoming, friendly, and even fun environment; bringing humanity and spirit to New Yorkers every day,” said MTA chairman Jay H. Walder in a press release.
Tricia Davis, a pop and R & B singer shared her thoughts, “I felt good, the judges smiled, they were very inviting and kind-looking, not very intimidating, so I felt comfortable.” She usually performs at events like weddings and birthdays. Her mom found out about the auditions and Tricia was selected after submitting a video.
There was a diverse selection of instruments like the Chinese erhu, Baroque harp, and Appalachian Dulcimer. Genres included folk, classical, blues, and opera.
An example of the diverse offerings was Brazilian Quarter, an ensemble that played Brazilian/New Orleans music. They featured a variety of instruments including the pandeiro (Brazilian tambourine), tuba, clarinet, piccolo, trombone, and bandolim (Brazilian mandolin).
