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Subway musicians must first face the music

Accordion player Matt Dallow, 32, auditions in front of a panel of judges for Music Under New York in Grand Central Station. MUNY holds yearly auditions to determine who will get official positions to play music in the New York subways.

Accordion player Matt Dallow, 32, auditions in front of a panel of judges for Music Under New York in Grand Central Station. MUNY holds yearly auditions to determine who will get official positions to play music in the New York subways.  (Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times)

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To snag prime performance space in the New York subway system, where playing in the bustling halls of Penn Station rather than a distant Brooklyn tunnel can mean the difference between big bucks and small change, musicians must first try out before a panel of judges.

Subway mariachi

The all-female Mariachi Flor de Toloache band auditions before a panel of over 30 judges for Music Under New York in Grand Central Station.   (Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times)

Subway vibraphone

Keith Dargan, left, gets ready to play his vibraphone in front of a panel of judges for Music Under New York in Grand Central Station.  (Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times)

Subway audience

A small crowd gathers to hear musicians audition for Music Under New York in Grand Central Station.   (Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times)

Subway mariachi band

Members of the all-female Mariachi Flor de Toloache band wait to try out for Music Under New York in Grand Central Station.  (Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times)

Subway accordion

Accordion player Matt Dallow, originally from Baltimore, prepares to audition for Music Under New York in Grand Central Station.  (Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times)

Subway mariachis

Members of the all-female band Mariachi Flor de Toloache audition in front of a panel of judges for Music Under New York in Grand Central Station.   (Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times)

Subway bluegrass

Chicken Barn Heroes, a bluegrass trio, audition in front of a panel of judges for Music Under New York in Grand Central Station.  (Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times)

Subway accordion

Accordion player Marin Ciotoi, 60, originally from Romania, auditions in front of a panel of judges for Music Under New York in Grand Central Station.  (Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times)

Playing for underground work

Luke Folger, 27, gets ready to audition in front of a panel of judges for Music Under New York in Grand Central Station. He is a one-man band who plays electronic music.  (Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times)

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