A performance by Native American flute player Mary Youngblood is always a profoundly spiritual experience. Both deeply resonant and soul-soothing, the voices of Mary’s handcrafted wooden flutes weave her original compositions into liquid poetry and haunting prayers. Throughout her career, Mary has stretched the boundaries of her chosen instrument, melding her lovely vocals, original poetry, and other musical genres like classical and blues with the flute’s ancient tones.

Mary, who currently resides in northern California, is of Aleut and Seminole descent. Raised in a musical family, she studied classical piano, violin, and flute from an early age. It wasn’t until she was an adult that Mary received her first wooden Native flute, and found herself driven to pursue the mastery of this ancient instrument, which is so tied to her own heritage. A rarity in the realm of the wooden flute, which was traditionally played only by men, she was the first woman to be named Flutist of the Year at the Native American Music Awards, in 1999 and 2000. She won a Grammy in 2003 for her acclaimed CD, Beneath the Raven Moon, and recently won her second for her 2006 release, Dance with the Wind (Silver Wave).