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Music Under New York (MUNY) is a program directed and funded by the New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority's Arts for Transit Office whose purpose is to increase the attractiveness of transit facilities for customers. More than 350 groups and artists participate in over 7,500 performances at 30 locations throughout the transit system. These locations include subway and commuter rail stations including the
MUNY offers performances of classical violinists, blues bands, jazz ensembles, Cajun cellists, and opera singers on instruments such as the Musical saw, Korean drum, Chinese dulcimer and pipa, Sengalese Kora, Flamenco guitar, Gypsy violin, among others.
Each year, MUNY holds auditions for all types of musicians. MUNY seeks quality acts that appeal to the diverse New York City transit riders. After applying, participants go through a live audition process. A panel of professionals within the music industry, cultural institutions, station operations and fellow musicians, judge each of the performances. Performers are accepted based on the criteria of quality, variety and appropriateness for the mass transit environment. [1]
History
In the 1930s, New York Mayor Fiorello La Guardia made it illegal to perform on New York City streets and subways. [2] Some musicians still sang and played instruments through the 1940s, 50s and 60s in an effort to reclaim public space. After 1970 street performing was once again legal, but it wasn’t until the 1980s that the ban was lifted on subways. [3]
Initiated as a pilot program in 1985, MUNY became official in January 1987.[4] The program allows public performers to be recognized by authorities and expose commuters to musical acts. MUNY is one of the many creative programs administered by MTA’s Arts for Transit that increases the attractiveness of transit facilities.
Legal Aspects
While it is still legal to perform music as a freelance busker, affiliation with MUNY provides benefits to performers. These include priority scheduling in popular spots, access to commuter railroad terminals, and fewer problems with law enforcement. MUNY members as well as freelance performers are subject to regulations of the
Notable People
Many of the musicians who perform in the subway under MUNY hold successful careers above ground as well. A number of MUNY performers have gone on to perform at prestigious venues such as Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center. These artists include Natalia Paruz (also known as the ‘Saw Lady’ for playing the musical saw), VongKu Pak (Korean drum), The Big Apple Boys (a capella choir),and James Graseck , a violinist. Possibly the most well-known of them is Alice Tan Ridley, a gospel singer who was featured on season 5 of America's Got Talent. The current lineup has artists such as the Ebony Hillbillies, SisterMonk, Didjworks, Manze Dayila, Rennaissance Street Singers, Heth and Jed, Keshea, and the Ukuladies. A full list of performers along with a list of locations can be found on MUNY’s website.
References
External Links
Dancing with Lupita Documentary about MUNY