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Tan, 31, is a dramatic arts graduate from the University of Toronto and has taught drama full-time at St. Jude������Ƶapp Academy of the Arts, a day program for adults with disabilities, for the past five years. He is also a member of the Newman Centre Youth Mass choir at the University of Toronto.

Tan is one of 74 musicians out of the nearly 160 who audition every year at the Canadian National Exhibition to get one of the coveted TTC licences to play at 25 designated subway stations.

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Music, he explains, echoes the human need for love.

“I remember attending a Theology of the Body workshop by (Catholic scholar) Christopher West and one of the things he said was, ‘If you look at the secular music out there, it is screaming about love,’ ” said Tan, who goes by Lex when performing, short for his middle name Alexander.

“The human heart is screaming for love, the experience of love, the absence of love, the presence of love. Music, like arts, is a way for the human soul to express the need for love.”

During the 5 p.m. rush, subway commuters scramble for the buses, while others, like frequent TTC rider Elizabeth, stop and listen. She recognizes the Christian contemporary tune being sung by Tan. An impromptu duet begins as they sing the lyrics to Hillsong������Ƶapp “Hosanna.”

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“Heal my heart and make it clean,” they sing. “Open up my eyes to the things unseen. Show me how to love like you have loved me.”

“I love the music so much,” Elizabeth said. “I think it������Ƶapp quite inspirational. It helps a lot of people that are passing through a lot of stuff.

“It calms them down. It makes them feel there������Ƶapp hope for tomorrow.”

This is the message that Tan hopes resonates with other subway riders who hear his music.

For Tan, performing is strongly connected to his Catholic faith.

Just like in his choice of plays to teach his drama students, Tan says he only sings “positive” songs that reflect his Catholic beliefs, omitting swear words and sexualized lyrics “to get the message (out) about God������Ƶapp love.”

For instance, when covering Katy Perry������Ƶapp hit song “Teenage Dream,” Tan substitutes “Let������Ƶapp go all the way tonight” with “Let������Ƶapp just fall into the night.”

It������Ƶapp about “using our gifts and talents to benefit the world in the best way that God intended for you and for each and every one of us,” Tan said.

“(Music) speaks to me that way because that������Ƶapp the way that God inspired King David when he wrote the psalms.”

Our gifts and talents, Tan said, “also come with a lot of responsibility.”

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