The Brooklyn-born Brass Queens have been crowned the first-ever MTA Music Under New York Riders’ Choice Award winners.
“We are astounded and thrilled to have won. 30,635 votes is no small feat — one we could not have accomplished without our family and friends and the entire Queendom,” stated the Brass Queens on their Facebook page. “Over the last four years we have built a community of fellow musicians, music lovers, restaurant and bar owners, and collaborators, who showed up for us and helped us get the word out.”
The nine-piece brass band was named the grand prize winner of the riders choice award during a ceremony held on July 27.
“This competition celebrates subways and music - two integral parts of the fabric of New York,” said Gov. Kathy Hochul. “Brass Queens exemplifies what it means to be a New Yorker and I am excited to watch them impress commuters and tourists alike throughout the subway system with their incredible sound.”
The MTA Music Under New York Riders’ Choice Award invited New Yorkers to vote on their favorite subway performers between three selected acts. Along with the Brass Queens, the finalists for the award included:
- Afro Dominicano — a Latin fusion band that blends traditional Dominican folkloric roots music with Afro-Caribbean soul. They are known for their high-energy riffs and romantic balladry
- Augie Bello — An instrumentalist, vocalist, producer and songwriter known for his energetic live saxophone performances on the streets of the city
Despite the tough competition, the Brass Queens came out on top with 56% of the votes.
As the grand prize winner, the Brass Queens will receive a recording session with Atlantic Records.
Hailing from Brooklyn, the Brass Queens feature an all-female horn section. Their music blends funk, soul and hip hop with high-energy performances.
The band debuted in 2019 and released their debut EP "Royal Street" in 2021. The ensemble performed at the 2021 Met Gala and the Governor's Ball Music Festival the same year.
The Riders’ Choice Awards have been developed by the WE❤️NYC campaign and funded by the members of the Partnership for New York City to encourage New Yorkers to show their love for their city through civic action and community engagement.
“WE❤️NYC is dedicated to showcasing the extraordinary qualities of New York City and its residents. Brass Queens is a prime example of the talent New Yorkers will encounter just by taking the subway. We sincerely congratulate Brass Queens and our other finalists, whose skill and love of performing help make New York a more joyful place to be, and we thank the thousands of New Yorkers who voted for their Riders’ Choice,” said Kathryn Wylde, president and CEO of Partnership for New York City.
The award program aims to highlight artists in the MTA Music Under New York program. The MTA Music Under New York program has been operating since 1987 and includes more than 350 performers.
Performers in the program are stationed at 43 MTA Music locations throughout the transit system, including subway stations and MTA commuter rail terminals and the Staten Island Ferry terminal.
This year, the MTA Music program also welcomes a cohort of 24 new performers. This is the first cohort since the pandemic. More than 128 acts applied and 40 auditioned for the cohort.
“Every musical performance along the way, whether it was today or the auditions held a few weeks ago, reflect the diversity of New York and are truly a memorable experience. I’m thrilled to celebrate Music Under New York’s first-ever Riders’ Choice winner, and excited for all the new performers to the program, to do what they love in the greatest venue there is, in a city with an unwavering appreciation of talent,” said Sandra Bloodworth, arts and design director for MTA.
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