Joe Young, the Cathedral's Audio/Video Engineer, recently nabbed second place at Musical Echoes, an international flute festival in Florida. Joe was one of five finalists selected from a field of hundreds who applied from around the world.

Joe, who held first chair in saxophone throughout junior and senior high school, became interested in Native American flutes and tin (penny) whistles 10 years ago when he saw them in a shop window. He began adding flutes to his public performances with Mobius Trip, Terra Sonus and various other recording artists. On his CD, Pathways he featured five different Native American Flutes and tin whistles in addition to the saxophone. Joe's second CD, Face the Wind will be released this fall.

Joe has met the flute maker of the majority of his flutes and has watched the progress of some of his flutes as they were being made. To date he has purchased or been given 9 Native American flutes and 12 tin whistles. When asked why so many he explained that each flute has only one key. In order to play with other musicians he needs at least one flute in every key. His flutes are Japanese, Chinese, Ancient Native American, Turkish and Peruvian designs. His most recent addition is an Anasazi flute, a 1200 year old Native American design.

Joe was a guest at a juried showcase at the Zion Flute Festival and at the Flute Quest Festival in Botthel, Washington, both in 2007. To hear a sample of Joe's work Google 'Joe Young Native American Flute.- Joe travels back to Zion for yet another festival in June 2008.