Yung Flutes

At Matera, Italy, one of the three oldest human settlements in the world.

We are deeply saddened by the supreme court’s decision to overturn Roe vs Wade. All people should have equal access to health care.

Read my review of Araki Kodō VI’s new CD – Hankyō https://yungflutes.wordpress.com/a-conversation-with-my-fathers/

Hi, I’m Perry Yung. Welcome to my website. I am a multimedia performance artist, actor, musician and shakuhachi flute craftsman. I first discovered the shakuhachi flute while performing in New York City as an actor in Ellen Stewart’s experimental theater production Oedipus the King. Night after night, the subtle sound of the flute became all encompassing. I started making the shakuhachi under the tutelage of that pit musician in Oedipus, Yukio Tsuji, as it was impossible to buy an instrument in the pre-internet days of 1994. Time passed and eight years later received a Japan United States Friendship Commission Artist grant to live in Japan to study with Kinya Sogawa. The shakuhachi has become an integral part of my life as I continue crafting and performing for theater, television and film and in meditation communities. From the very beginning the flute has helped to raise money for UNICEF, Food Banks, Black Lives Matter and Anti-Asian violence organizations such as TAAF to name a few. These days I continue to hone my playing chops with Ralph Samuelson. Please feel free to ask any questions whatsoever. I may not be able to reply right away but will do so asap. Thanks! – Perry

If shipping for repairs, I work from different locations so email me at yungflutes at gmail dot com for the address.

Education: Bachelors of Fine Art, Summa Cum Laude 1990. San Francisco State University.

Grants: Asian Cultural Council Artist Fellowship. Shakuhachi research for Edo Period instruments and music 2014. Lower Manhattan Community Council grant. Theatrical work with shakuhachi and Asian American identity 2005. Jerome Robbins Ear to the Ground Grant. Jet Stream. Mulberry St Theater. 2005. Joseph Papp Public Theater Playwrights Development Program. Rice Cooker Chronicles, 2003. Japan United States Friendship Commission Artist Fellowship for shakuhachi making, 2002. La Mama Theater Artist in Residency 1993 – 1999. Martha Graham Scholarship 1991.

Shakuhachi Photos from the workbench – Jinashi, Jiari and Honshu red urushi lacquer.:

Performance works: Breath, World International Shakuhachi Festival, London July 2018. Family Playdate, La Mama Theater series. 2008 – present. Jet Stream, Mulberry St Theater. 2005 SLANT Performance Group, eight original theatrical productions involving shakuhachi. La Mama Theater. Joseph Papp Public Theater, domestic and international tours 1995 – present.

Recent Performance Gallery:

National Day of Solidarity Washington DC Keynote 2021

Theater: Great Jones Repertory Group 1993 – present. SLANT Performance group 1995 – present. Ping Chong 1998 and 2008. Fred Ho and the Afro-Asian American art Ensemble 1991 – 2013. Pan Asian Repertory Theater 1992 – 2000. Mabou Mines NYC 2021.

Touring: PANORAMA, Motus and Great Jones, Rome, Partenza and Bari – Nov 2018. Pan Asian Repertory Theater. Cairo Egypt Johannesburg, South Africa. 1993 – 1997 SLANT Performance Group 1995 – 2008. Domestic and international. Trojan Women/Fragments of a Greek Trilogy. 1997 – 2002. Domestic and international – Italy, Greece, Croatia, Macedonia, Austria, Former Yugoslavia, Turkey, Taiwan, Japan and Korea to name a few.