Posted on Apr 19, 2004

Boston

The Union Club of Boston welcomed many new members this year who help support a local book award at the Lyndon School and enjoy discounts to club events. Over the past year, club members have enjoyed a wide range of events. Last May, the club shared an evening of cocktails and hors d'oeuvres at the Boston Pops, an event that included a discussion with the Pops' manager, Tony Beadle. After a summer hiatus, the fall season included a family apple-picking event at Honey Pot Hill Orchards and a wine-tasting event at the Living Room in downtown Boston. Approximately 100 alumni gathered to cheer the Dutchmen at the annual Union vs. Harvard hockey game and reception in February, and a young alumni enjoyed a St. Patrick's Day event. Area alumni interested in becoming club members should contact Kelly Schrade '99 at schradek@mail.alumni.union.edu or Elyse Topp-Poirer '01 at elysemtp@yahoo.com.

Chicago

The Alumni Office seeks volunteers to help coordinate a variety of alumni events in the Chicago area. If you would like to help, please contact Lisa Tesarik '93 at lisa_tesarik@bankone.com or 773-975-9839.

Connecticut

Last spring the Union College Club of Connecticut, along with Charles Roden '60, hosted fifty Stamford area alumni, parents, and guests for President Hull's “Union Today” presentation at the Rockrimmon Country Club. A special thanks to Charles for hosting this event. Please contact Alissa Mayo '96 at Alissa.mayo@alumni.union.edu or 203-912-5983 if you would like to help plan events in this area.

Dallas

In November the Union College Club of Dallas enjoyed a performance of the opera “Queen of Spades.” Prior to the opera, alumni enjoyed dinner at the music hall and a talk with Helena Binder '76, the assistant director and choreographer for “Queen of Spades.” If you would like to help coordinate events in the Dallas area, please contact Nelson Weil '76 at nlw72@comcast.net

Kansas City

The Kansas City Club is underway, with its opening held at Kansas City's recently revitalized Union Station. Called “Union at Union Station,” the event featured more than fifteen alumni and parents, all of whom reside in Kansas City's bi-state region. Alden Davis '37 attended with his family all the way from Wichita, Kansas. Club members set out to begin an active series of events and networking gatherings to serve the more than fifty alumni in greater Kansas City. If you're in the Kansas City region and would like to join the Union Club of Kansas City, please contact the Office of Alumni Relations at 1-888-THE-IDOL, extension 6168.

If you can't come to Union. Union will come to you! The Union College Club of Kansas City was able to watch a Union football game from the comforts of Dan and Robin Ryan's '82 home. The gang requested one of the Union games (previously taped) and elected to watch it in Kansas City! The group had an old- fashioned tailgate, where they enjoyed tons of food and drink. Union even managed to give them a victory: 19-6 over WPI.

Los Angeles

The Union College Club of Los Angeles gathered at the Center Club in Costa Mesa to hear an update on the state of Union from President Roger Hull. Jim McGhee '88 welcomed the group, the president took questions from all who attended. Alumni and guests were thrilled to see President Hull in Orange County. The next evening, the club gathered at the Peninsula in Beverly Hills to hear President Hull speak; the club range is so extensive we needed two event locations to serve all constituents! Ronald Crowell '66 welcomed more than fifty alumni and guests. Again, President Hull took questions, which focused on the House System and fraternities, converging technologies, admissions percentages and financial aid, the economic stability of the Schenectady area, and the position Union will hold in relation to Sematech. Alumni and guests were pleased with the news brought to them that evening and are eager to gather again.

On July 9, the Union College Club of Los Angeles gathered for “Blues Night at the Bowl.” The group had a wonderful time picnicking in the Camrose Garden while chatting and catching up prior to the event. After the summer picnic al fresco, the blues fans entered the arena and enjoyed the entertainment courtesy of Etta James and The Roots Band. The performance was fabulous!

Minneapolis

The Union College Club of Minneapolis is official! The first club event was held December 11, 2003. The group feasted on the delicious display made specially for the club by The Capital Grille in downtown Minneapolis. After the reception, club members were entertained by the Guthrie Theater's performance of “A Christmas Carol.” Everyone left the Guthrie in great holiday spirit; it was a wonderful event! The group plans to host another event during the summer months.

New York City

Union events have been keeping New York City alumni, parents, and friends busy for the last several months. President Hull visited Long Island last spring to talk about the exciting changes happening at Union. A few months later, in Manhattan, alumni gathered after work to mingle at T.G. Whitney's. This fall the club welcomed the class of 2003 to the New York City area with a young alumni scavenger hunt, in which Union's newest graduates explored the East Village by solving Union clues and trivia. Alumni, parents, and friends then celebrated the holiday season with Professors Tom Werner, James Underwood, Richard Fox, Sharon Gmelch, George Gmelch, and Dean of the Faculty Christie Sorum at a gathering at the Cornell Club. Most recently, Union's New Yorkers welcomed another faculty member to the city when they gathered at the Gerald Peters Gallery to see an exhibit of breathtaking paintings by Professor Walter Hatke.

Visit with old friends and meet other alumni while helping the New York City Alumni Club plan social gatherings to bring the alumni of greater New York together for several different events throughout the year. Minimal time commitment is necessary, and alumni of all years are welcome. Please contact Kristen Zadourian '01 at kristenzadourian@hotmail.com if you are interested.

Philadelphia

Last fall, members of the Union community gathered to enjoy a performance of the Philadelphia Orchestra led by Christoph Eschenbach, one of the most sought-after conductors in the world. Before the performance, Union's guests enjoyed dinner at Toto's restaurant and a talk by Simon Woods, the vice president for artistic planning at the orchestra, who selects the musical programs. For more information on the Philadelphia Club or to help plan events, please contact Dina Stonberg '95 at dinas@att.net

San Diego

The Union College Club of San Diego gathered in beautiful downtown San Diego at the University Club as President Roger Hull addressed the enthusiastic group. Alumni volunteer Kevin Harkenrider '77 welcomed more than twenty-five alumni and guests. With a fantastic 360-degreee view of downtown, President Hull spoke of the College's four special areas – converging technologies, undergraduate research, terms abroad, and community service. Attendees had a wonderful time catching up on Union news and with one another.

Last May, the San Diego Club met at the world-famous San Diego Zoo and welcomed Professor George Butterstein, who spoke on his research and work in the Center for Reproduction of Endangered Species (CRES), where he is one of the few scientists studying blood samples from endangered animals. When the sun finally came out after lunch, we enjoyed a fun-filled afternoon of exploration around the zoo. A great time was had by all.

San Francisco

On Feb. 19, 2004, the Northern California Chapter held its third annual President's Day celebration in honor of Chester Arthur. The club felt it was important to recognize the twenty-third president of the United States, in addition to George Washington and Abraham Lincoln. Alumni enjoyed tasty appetizers and Union-worthy drinks while sharing in some fun trivia about President Arthur.

On June 14, 2003, the Northern California Club held its second annual “spring cleaning” day. This year Dolores Park was the chosen location. This beautification project was part of a larger effort of the San Francisco Parks Department to restore and maintain its parks for all to enjoy. The group enjoyed coffee, juice, and bagels and quickly burned off those calories cleaning! To extend community reach, the club was joined by local San Francisco Bay area alumni from both Hamilton College and Colgate University. After the event, the group feasted on a wonderful lunch and reveled in the fruits of their labor.

In July, the club gathered for a good old-fashioned summer day at the ball park. The group feasted on a delicious lunch right in Pac Bell Park. George Gmelch, professor of anthropology, spoke to the avid baseball fans about the history and culture of baseball, drawing on his recently-published book, Inside Pitch: Life in Professional Baseball. Gmelch went on the road with a busload of players to record the details of life around the diamond. Drawing on more than 100 interviews with major and minor league players, coaches, and managers, he explored players' experiences throughout their careers. Everyone was thrilled with the information George was able to give and thoroughly enjoyed the Giants' win over the San Diego Padres.

Later in the year, the club gathered at the opera to enjoy “The Mother of Us All,” choreographed by Helena Binder '76. The group connected with Helena before the performance for a short reception. Club members thoroughly enjoyed the reception and the opera.

On December 9, the club celebrated another fine year with a holiday party at Jade Bar in San Francisco. Vintage wines and delicious hors d'oeuvres complemented snappy tunes as the club members mingled and shared in the festive spirit.

Schenectady

On September 18, more than fifty members of the Union family gathered in Albany at the Bomber's Burrito Bar, owned by Matt Baumgartner '95. Many young alumni ended their workday networking and having casual conversation with fellow graduates. The next day, more than 100 met at the Mohawk Golf Club for dinner. President Hull spoke on “Union Today and Tomorrow.”

On October 21, about fifty people attended a luncheon at the Mohawk Golf Club. Philip Morris, chief executive officer of Schenectady's Proctor's Theater, spoke about the proposed expansion of the theater and about Schenectady revitalization.

On November 18, Professor Clifford Brown of the Political Science Department spoke about the 2004 Presidential election. He gave several scenarios of major turning points in campaigning that could affect the outcome. The group of about seventy enjoyed a traditional Thanksgiving menu.

On December 9, seventy members and friends of the club came to Union's Old Chapel for a holiday luncheon. The Niskayuna High School Studio Singers, led by Paula Brinkman, performed popular and holiday favorites. More than sixty people enjoyed a delicious luncheon.

Seattle

On July 28, 2003, the Union College Club of Seattle gathered for an evening at SAFECO Field. Twenty-five eager Mariners fans enjoyed a picnic dinner at the Pyramid Alehouse and Brewery directly across from the field and listened intently to George Gmelch, professor of anthropology, discuss the history and culture of baseball from his recently-published book, Inside Pitch: Life in Professional Baseball. The group cheered and cheered for the Mariners, but to no avail, as the Mariners lost to the Texas Rangers. Still, the fans had a wonderful time and enjoyed the evening.

Washington, D.C.

The Union College Alumni Club of D.C. has 150 dues-paying members and sponsors six events per year, including a reception on Capitol Hill for Union students spending their spring semester in Washington. The club financially subsidizes those students, who, because they are in Washington, are unable to work part-time on campus. A tour of the Old Dominion Brewery drew an appreciative crowd. Fifty Union alumni joined Hamilton and Skidmore alumni for the annual holiday party at the DACOR Bacon House. Nearly 100 Union alumni and guests took part in a tour of the Smithsonian's new National Air and Space Museum at the edge of Dulles Airport. For information about the club and its events, check its web site: www.union.edu/alumni/events.

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Posted on Apr 19, 2004

Think of it as Union pride meets the palate.

The Alumni Council is putting its label – complete with the image of the Nott Memorial – on bottles of wine from award-winning wineries. “We hope these wines will help alumni and friends of the College recapture the magic of days at Union, and support the Alumni Association,” said Nick Famulare '92, director of alumni relations.

The wine portfolio, offered by Signature Wines, includes six different varietals available by the case or in mixed collections. To order a four-bottle set or twelve-bottle case of Union College Alumni Council wine, visit www.signaturewines.com/union or phone toll free 1-888-968-7946.

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Posted on Apr 19, 2004

After several false starts, a strong Alumni Council

The College's first alumni organization – the “Association of Graduates of Union College” – was formed in 1825, the fourth such group in the country (predecessors were Williams in 1821, Brown and Middlebury, both in 1824).

According to the group's constitution, it was founded “for social and literary purposes.” Its first president was John Savage, Class of 1799, the chief justice of New York State, and its second president was John W. Taylor, Class of 1803, the speaker of the House of Representatives. Despite the prestige of the group's leaders, however, its focus on literary activities was too narrow, and it drifted into inactivity after 1830.

After a brief (and unsuccessful) attempt to revive the association in 1842, it found more permanent footing in 1857, when the state legislature incorporated the Union College Alumni Association. In 1871, the Board of Trustees agreed to alumni representation on the board, and the alumni association has nearly always been responsible since then for nominating alumni trustees.

By the early 1900s, the association had become moribund, victim of frequent disputes with various administrations. In 1909, President Charles Alexander Richmond persuaded class officers to accept a new system, and a year later he hired Charles Waldron, of the Class of 1906, to become graduate secretary.

The new Graduate Council (later the Alumni Council) consisted of elected representatives of each of the thirty-five most recent classes, joined by fifteen at-large members. The council set up a number of standing committees to do much of its work, encouraged the establishment of local alumni clubs, and in 1911 launched Union College Monthly, the first in a series of Union magazines. Although the council's activities have changed over the years, its structure is essentially the same as it was when Richmond and Waldron founded it.

Here is your Alumni Council Executive Committee:

Robert Danziger '89/Immediate Past President – Apartment 7D, 245 West 104th St., New York 10025; Robert.a.danziger@citigroup.com; 212-865-4425 (h)

Catherine Hedgeman '96/Secretary – 104 Elkin Court, Delmar, N.Y. 12054; chedgeman@hiscockbarclay.com; 518-439-9894 (h)

Karen Huggins '77/Senior Alumni Trustee – 11 Carrie Court, Niskayuna, N.Y. 12309; kihuggins@aol.com; 518-372-5128 (h)

Michael Newell '74/Treasurer – 1226 Sacandaga Rd., West Charlton, N.Y. 12010; mnewell@idexcorp.com; 518-399-9575 (h)

Jason Oshins '87/President – 18 Downing Place, Livingston, N.J. 07039; oshinsatlaw@aol.com; 973-597-0303 (h)

Charles Roden '60/2nd Vice President – 7 Blair Rd., Armonk, N.Y. 10504; Kiw702@aol.com; 914-273-3133 (h)

Pat Seftel '80/1st Vice President – 3000 Rosendale Rd., Niskayuna, N.Y. 12309; 518-346-1889 (h)

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Posted on Apr 19, 2004

The ways to measure a person's connection to his or her college include the statistical and the emotional.

In the former, we note that there were nearly seventy alumni events and activities during a recent year; that more than 6,000 alumni, parents, and friends participated; that the number of regional alumni clubs has risen from two to more than twenty; and that the number of alumni volunteering on behalf of Union has increased by more than 200 in the last two years.

The emotional category is more elusive, but it undoubtedly includes the sense of contemplation inspired when the alumnus visitor sees the setting sun touching the weather vane atop Memorial Chapel; the pride when a son or daughter decides to apply to Union as an “Early Decision” candidate; the smile that comes when the name “Union College” pops up in an unexpected way, as it did in a recent episode of “The Sopranos.”

The following pages describe some of the many ways alumni and college connect. We hope they inspire you to call or write the people in our Alumni Office, who are always happy to say, “Sure, we have room for one more.”

Representing Union

A number of alumni represented the College recently at presidential inaugurations at other institutions. They are:

Eugene Setel '50 at Medaille College in Buffalo, N.Y.

Brian Dearing '77 at Ripon College in Ripon, Wis.

Fred Longe '42 at Skidmore College in Saratoga Springs, N.Y.

Dr. P.J. Fugazzotto '53 at Muhlenberg College in Allentown, Pa.

Dr. Wendell L. Bryce '48 at Cornell University in Ithaca, N.Y.

Nancy D. Grundman '87 at Fordham University in New York City

Kathy Mullaney '74 at Clarkson University in Potsdam, N.Y., and at Naropa University in Boulder, Colo.

Hon. A. James Dickinson '62 at Macalester College in St. Paul, Minn.

Alumni Awards

Alumni Gold Medal Award – Presented by the Union College Alumni Council recognizing distinguished service to the College.

Special Appreciation Award – Presented to alumni to recognize service and unwavering loyalty to Union College and to the Alumni Council.

Distinguished Service to Union Award – Presented to alumni who have demonstrated exceptional commitment and loyalty to their alma mater and who have made significant and diverse contributions to the College over their lifetime.

Alumni Club Contacts

If you want to get involved in alumni club activities, here are the volunteers you can contact. And if your city isn't on the list, call the Alumni Office (518-388-6168) to see about starting your own club.

Albuquerque, N.M. Peter Castiglia '99, 8912 6th St., Albuquerque 87114; castiglia@alumni.union.edu

Boston, Mass. Kelly Schrade '99, Apartment 2, 21 Pleasant St., Newton 02459; schradek@hotmail.com; 617-527-5517 (h)

Chicago Lisa Tesarik '93, Apartment 1412, 1960 Lincoln Park West, Chicago, 60614; Lisa_tesarik@bankone.com; 773-975-9839 (h)

Connecticut Alissa Mayo '96, 10C Putnam Green, Greenwich 06830, Alissa.mayo@alumni.union.edu, 203-912-5983 (h)

Dallas, Texas Nelson Weil '76, 16651 Cleary Circle, Dallas 75248; Nlw72@comcast.net; 972-713-9750 (h)

Denver, Colo. Genevieve Graham '99, Apartment F26, 3250 Oneal Circle, Boulder 80301; grahamg@mail.alumni.union.edu

Kansas City, Mo. Ken Berlack '90, 5927 McGee St., Kansas City 64113; kberlack@hotmail.com; 816-363-7747 (h)

Las Vegas, Nev. Morton Silverman '49, 10593 Meadow Mist Ave., Las Vegas 89135; 702-363-2374 (h)

Los Angeles, Calif. Jim McGhee '82, 1981 Molino Ave., Long Beach 90804; mcghee@aol.com; 562-498-2233 (h)

Minneapolis, Minn. Bob Howe '58, 135 Chevy Chase Dr., Wayzata 55391; Howex001@umn.edu; 952-473-4323 (h)

Naples, Fla. Fred Brandt '47, Unit 201, 5985 Bloomfield Circle, Naples 34112; naplesbrandts@aol.com; 239-793-6323 (h)

New York City Kristen Zadourian '01, 302 Edgewood Ave., Westfield, N.J. 07090; kristenzadourian@hotmail.com; 908-232-2519 (h)

Philadelphia, Pa. Dina Stonberg '95, 210 Chestnut Parkway, Wallingford 19086; dinas@att.net; 484-361-5083 (h)

Pittsburgh, Pa. Joe Sawyer '66, PO Box 453, Sewickley 15143; jsawyer@fyi.net; 412-741-1924 (h)

Portland, Ore. Looking for volunteers. Please contact Marisa Caropreso in the Alumni Office or e-mail her at caroprem@union.edu

Rochester, N.Y. John Sciortino '81, Michele Sciortino '84, 1777 Scribner Rd., Penfield 14526; Scorch1100@aol.com; 585-377-0231 (h)

San Diego, Calif. Kevin Harkenrider '77, 11215 Monticook Court, San Diego 92127; kjhark@aol.com; 858-487-5969 (h)

San Francisco, Calif. Nish Nadaraja '94, Unit 10, 2875 21st St., San Francisco 94110; NNadaraja@alumni.union.edu; 415-642-6384 (h)

Sarasota, Fla. Norm Kreisman '47, 7935 Wood Point Court, Sarasota 34238; dotnorm@comcast.net or 941-923-7161 (h)

Schenectady Harold Krupa '69, 2330 Shirl Lane, Schenectady 12309; hjkrupa@nycap.rr.com; 518-377-6062 (h)

Seattle, Wash. Eve Ruff '77, 5809 Kensington Place North, Seattle 98103; emruff@comcast.net; 206-527-7032 (h)

Washington, D.C. Tom Johnson '62, 5107 Southampton Dr., Annandale, Va. 22003; assembly@erols.com; 703-425-7705 (h)

West Palm Beach/Miami, Fla. Ryan Smith '98, Megan Smith '99, 138 NW Willow Grove Ave., Port St. Lucie 34986; Ryan.t.smith@smithbarney.com; 772-344-4575 (h)

Sign up to help

Alumni who want to volunteer at the College have lots of opportunities. Here are a few:

Annual Fund
• Class Giving Chair
• Class Ambassador
• National Chair
• Terrace Council National Chair
• Leadership Chairs
• Phonathon Volunteer

Alumni Relations

• Class Correspondent
• Class Officer
• Alumni Council Representative
• Alumni Council Officer
• Club Officer
• ReUnion Chair
• ReUnion Volunteer
• Garnet Guard Chair
• Choral ReUnion Committee

Development

• Campaign Committee
• Event Host
• Speaker/Panelist

College Relations

• Alumni Physicians Advisory Council
• Chemistry Alumni Advisory Council
• Union Women Connect
• Parent's Council
• Ebony

Opportunities Outside of College Relations

• Career Center
• Admissions
• Athletic Hall of Fame
• Grid Iron Club
• Garnet Blades

If you're interested, Nick Famulare '92, director of alumni affairs, would love to hear from you. He's at 518/388-6168 or famularn@union.edu.

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Posted on Apr 19, 2004

Shanon LaCorte '04 turned his term paper assignment into a look at some of New York City's subway musicians.

It is noon on a stormy Monday afternoon, and the rain is pouring down in midtown Manhattan. With Central Park drenched and the streets slippery, even a casual stroll is out of the question. But for a fee of two dollars you can attend a concert that will keep you dry and lasts as long as you can stand on your own two feet.

This performance is not publicized, and it takes place twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, all year round. There is no usher to welcome you, only the steel escalator into the New York City subway-the stage for the dozens of musicians who take to New York's underground day in and day out. It is here that you can spend an entire day listening to everything from an Afro-Cuban drum to Spanish guitar and vocals.

Under a sixteen-year-old program called Music Under New York, funded by the Metropolitan Transit Authority's Arts for Transit office, close to 100 musicians obtain permits to play in various subway stops all over the city. The talented and fortunate few who do obtain permits (they audition for the privilege) are not paid, but they receive a “Music Under New York” banner and the “o.k.” from transit police. There are dozens more, however, who play without authorization.

Sandra Bloodworm, director of MTA's Arts for Transit, says that the feedback her office receives is generally positive. “New York is a challenge, and the music takes people's minds off the daily issues of life. It gives them a chance to pause and get caught up in the music.”

Behind each note is a talented artist striving to “get you caught up” in their tunes. Here are some of their stories:

The Beat of 42nd Street

Eugene Armstrong, 41, plays a ceremonial West-African drum at the Grand Central subway stop at 42nd Street. He sits on a small folding chair perched against a garbage can in the middle of the platform. His long dreads spill out of his Rastafarian hat, and he wears a black t-shirt stating “African American History Month.” As the dozens of commuters pass him by, he closes his eyes and focuses only on the sounds coming from his drum.

“I have had a relationship with music all of my life,” Armstrong says, noting influences of John Coltrane, Miles Davis, and Max Roach. “This music is not mainstream at the moment, so I come underground to work among a culturally and ethnically diverse group. The subway has the most critical audience members you can find; they have zero tolerance for bad music. But music is a universal language, emotional and relational.”

He is very aware of the audience while he plays. When the 456 local train screeches by, he plays a loud, masculine beat to battle its sound. As the trains pass, he lowers the voice of his drum to a sultrier, feminine beat.

In the three years that Armstrong has played in the subway, he has learned that a certain “caste system” of respect exists among the various musicians-and that there is a certain camaraderie . When he was starting out, a street performing veteran taught him how to tune his drum to accommodate to the volatile weather conditions in New York. “When we see one another, it's customary to drop a little something in the basket,” he says. “It is also a good way to help each other out in finding gigs.”

Armstrong finds that playing in the subway has far more variables than playing in clubs. “It's wet in New York today. It makes my skin dry,” referring to the skin on his Indonesian Djembe drum. “I prefer to play in the cold. It makes the sounds resonate deeper into the tunnels.”

Armstrong attended Binghamton University, where he studied dance and took classes in Afro-Jazz music. He left college to quench his musical thirst and pursue a career in the arts. “I rely on my own skill to make something out of it.” He does exactly that, earning anywhere from two dollars for an entire day to sixty dollars for a single hour playing underground. His busiest time is 4:30 to 6:30, when the rush hour commuters are heading home.

In addition to making some cash and spreading Afro-Cuban music, Armstrong wants to affect people on a personal level in a place where they least expect it. “In post-9/11 society, New Yorkers seek healing. In this fast-paced concrete jungle, the echoing sound I produce can be very therapeutic for the soul.”

A Dynamic Duo at Lex

Just a few blocks uptown, as you step off the 456 into the Lexington Ave. station, you can hear a lone voice, harsh and raspy, singing “My Favorite Things.” After a dollar is placed in his bag, doubling as a collection plate and cooler for his lunch, Carlton stops mid-lyric to give a nod and say “thanks” to the generous commuter. He then leads straight into a poignant rendition of “Ain't No Sunshine.”

Carlton, who studied music at Howard University “way back,” sings in various jazz clubs all over New York. In the subway, you can hear him sing anything from R&B, jazz, and classical to gospel and pop. As he sings, a middle-aged man leaning on a steel beam provides a humming accompaniment.

As Carlton finishes, he takes note of my interest and says, “If you like me, stick around for this guy,” pointing to his backup singer, who has now picked up a guitar. He continues, “On a good day, you can hear my voice up top (the mezzanine level of the station). When people throw in, it's because they know it's me singing. If they don't put down, it's 'cause they don't like me.”

The two men shake hands as they trade off their small section of the platform/stage. “See you in a few,” says Carlton as he hops on the Queens-bound E train.

Equipped with a car battery, amplifier, and music box, Bob warms up his fingers on the guitar. He is the spitting image of Jimi Hendrix, wearing a dark blue bandanna, a Michigan sweatshirt, and tattered blue jeans. After about an hour of jamming, all that Bob has in his sack is the three dollars he began with. He makes his solos more technical and impressive, and the bills start falling in.

Most of the people who “put down” are young hippie-types and music enthusiasts. One young man stops for several minutes to take in an earful. “I just missed my train to hear this,” he says, embarrassed. “I play guitar, and he's real good.” Bob gives a head nod and a tip of his guitar.

Originally from St. Louis and now residing in Queens, Bob left behind a wife and daughter when he moved to the coast and supports them whenever he can. He is self-taught on the guitar, and recently quit his job working as a cashier at Wal-Mart. “I know it was a steady paycheck, but now I enjoy what I do, and I do what I love.”

Clarinet of Culture at Port Authority

From below the main concourse at the transfer terminal at the Port Authority, a faint melody guides your ear, with your feet sure to follow. It is “Glory, Hallelujah” performed by the Haitian-born clarinet player, Paul. Nestled on the side of a stairwell, he is wearing a brown suit with a brown hat. A carefully-placed cigar box is propped open atop a piece of luggage in front of him. It currently holds a few scattered coins.

With a smirk on his face he points to me and says, “I'm gonna play 'dis one for your father.” He starts his own twist on the song “La Cucaracha,” with a few scattered squeaks from the instrument here and there.

“Sorry 'bout 'dat. I can't afford no reeds,” he says regretfully.

“Perhaps this will help,” an observer says, slipping a five-dollar bill into Paul's box. His face lights up, and then he gets right back into character by playing “Für Elise.”

Paul immigrated to the United States fifteen years ago and has been playing in the subway without a permit for two years. Speaking with a thick accent out of the side of his mouth, he says that in Haiti he was a musician learning to play at a young age in school. He now resides in Brooklyn and works every opportunity he can find. He admits that he would like to teach music for a living but finds it difficult with a language barrier.

“When I'm not playin' up there, I'm playin' down here.”

Warming Union Square

If a soothing saxophone is what you seek, then Union Square is your stop. Lou stands about six feet tall, resting comfortably in his black suit and sneakers. With his tenor sax hanging around his neck, he checks out the people as they scurry by during rush hour.

He moved to the city in late July, all the way from the West Coast. With less than six months under his belt, Lou has few intentions of ever returning to the West. “The music out there is superficial, and just not very good. Here it's real.” And the New York audience is much more aware of a performer's integrity, he says. “They can tell if you're playing from the heart, putting yourself into it, or if you're full of bullshit.”

Lou had been used to playing private parties for a decent living. In New York, he has got street performing down cold. “It's not an exact science. What works for one person won't necessarily work for another.”

He often rotates the spot where he is going to play. One of his favorites is Canal Street; “there is a lot of reverb there, almost too much, but it makes for a nasty, frustrated blues.” He also likes to play under a bridge in Central Park, but the temperature is too cold for that now.

Lou admits that he makes much more money playing in the subway and on the streets than he ever did at a private party. “When you are at a club, the paycheck is guaranteed. Here people can feel obligated to pay. If I make eye contact with a person who is enjoying my sound, then they will feel guilty if they don't throw in. It's the New York way.”

A Personal Odyssey

What makes a talented musician quit his day job, or leave his home, to play in the subway? The only way to understand a battle is to get into the trenches. So I become a subway musician.

As the R train screams out of the subway stop at 49th Street and 7th Avenue in Manhattan, I pull the horn out of its leather case. My B-flat “French Besson” trumpet is so cold that the pitch is going to be a little sharp until I warm it up. I rub some gloss onto my lips to keep them from chapping in the chill. Skipping any traditional preparation, such as scales or long tones, I go right to it. With my first note I have become a New York City subway musician.

Officially, I am playing the New York underground illegally. But the transit cops never hassle me, and it isn't long before I find that the commuters take on a similar role. Perhaps it's because, with my faded sweatshirt, torn jeans, and three-day stubble, I fit the portrait of an authentic subway musician.

For my first tune, it is the swing standard “When the Saints Go Marching In.” Some people tap their feet or walk to the pace of my rhythm. Most people just scurry along. As soon as
the first song is done, two middle-aged women along with three young children approach me. Could this be my first tip?

“Do you know how to get to the World Trade Center from here?” asks one of the women.

Somewhat discouraged, I give the group accurate directions and continue to play. In the first two of the four consecutive hours spent at 49th and 7th, I would receive more questions about subway directions than anything else.

An hour has passed now. The trumpet has finally warmed up and so has my heart. The nerves swarming in the pit of my stomach have all but gone. The pitch of the horn is in the right spot and so is my head. I close my eyes and begin to play. I continue with a Miles Davis tune, “All Blues.” It starts off calm, like the sea before a storm. One graceful note after another fills the underground tunnels. I am not sure how the crowd is reacting because I cannot see them, but it is of no matter-it's just me and the music. I continue to build on each preceding note. Higher and faster, smoother and louder. The storm is now brooding. At the peak of the melody a train pulls into the station. It takes all of my lungs' capacity to match its metallic force.

The train pulls away, and the song has finished. In my mind I can picture the audience. It's a standing ovation for one of the most impressive and emotional performances I have ever given. I pull the mouthpiece from my lips as my eyes open. There is no one around me. Every passerby has just passed me by. All except for one young woman who stands directly in front of me.

“That was really awesome,” she comments, and then drops my first and only tip of the day-thirty-seven cents. I nod my head and say, “Thank you.”

“I really enjoyed that,” she continues.

By the end of the day, all I have to show for my four hours of music is the appreciation of one fan and a handful of change that will not even cover the cost of my metrofare. I decide that what attracts people to the musicians underground is a certain characteristic that cannot be learned in a music classroom. These musicians are permanent fixtures of New York culture-an eclectic group of men and women, young and old, who provide color and texture to a place where you would least expect.

The musicians of the New York City subway often go overlooked and underappreciated. Some are hoping to be discovered, while others struggle to get by. Some play for the practice and some for the thrill. They come from various cultural, ethnic, social, and economic backgrounds, but they all share one unequivocal value-their passion for music. The next time you venture into the maze of tunnels underneath New York City, separate the sounds of the cold steel from that of the warm melody, and a smile is guaranteed to come to your face.

Just be sure you leave a nice tip.

Shanon LaCorte

Shanon LaCorte has played the trumpet since the third grade, and he has always been interested in the street musicians he saw in New York when his father took him on the subway or to baseball games at Yankee Stadium.

So, when it came time to write his paper for Prof. Richard Fox's investigative journalism course, it seemed a natural to combine the interests. His first-person narrative combines insight into this little-known culture with an account of his day as a street musician.

“The goal of the class was to get the best story possible,” Shanon says. “Going from place to place in the subway, listening to musicians and then getting their stories, was great. If I had to do it again, I'd spend the entire term in New York, trying to be a street musician.”

Was he nervous? “Oh yeah, at first, but the first interview gave me confidence. I talked to about fifteen musicians by the time I was done.”

Shanon, a political science major and music minor, plans to go to law school next year, and he says music will continue to be a big part of his life. In fact, his dream law school would be Tulane, where he could combine study with playing New Orleans jazz.

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