HOUSTON—Shen Yun Performing Arts was both a beautiful and educational experience for Jeff and Charlett Pendergraft at the Jones Hall for the Performing Arts in Houston, Dec. 27.

Mr. Pendergraft, an executive at energy advisory and investment banking firm Galway Group, was impressed by the beauty and artistry through which New York-based Shen Yun presented 5,000 years of Chinese civilization.

“It’s very interesting, a lot of interesting Chinese history behind [it],” Mr. Pendergraft said.

Not having had experience with traditional Chinese culture, the couple enjoyed learning through the dance and emcees the themes and traditional Chinese values.

“It’s beautiful,” Mrs. Pendergraft said, noting the costumes and music. The couple said they enjoyed hearing the new instruments in Shen Yun Orchestra, and the soloists. Shen Yun Orchestra combines traditional Chinese instruments with a Western symphony, so instruments like the pipa play alongside the violin.

Every Shen Yun performance also includes solo vocalists singing original Chinese compositions, in the bel canto style.

“The singers are wonderful,” Mr. Pendergraft said. “Great voices.”

Reporting by Sarah Guo and Catherine Yang

New York-based Shen Yun Performing Arts has four touring companies that perform simultaneously around the world. For more information, visit Shen Yun Performing Arts.

The Epoch Times considers Shen Yun Performing Arts the significant cultural event of our time. We have proudly covered audience reactions since Shen Yun’s inception in 2006.