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.
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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)

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.

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)

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.

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)

A small crowd gathers to hear musicians audition for Music Under New York in Grand Central Station.

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

Members of the all-female Mariachi Flor de Toloache band wait to try out for Music Under New York in Grand Central Station.

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)

Accordion player Matt Dallow, originally from Baltimore, prepares to audition for Music Under New York in Grand Central Station.

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

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.

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)

Chicken Barn Heroes, a bluegrass trio, audition in front of a panel of judges for Music Under New York in Grand Central Station.

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)

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.

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)

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.

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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