Divine Performing Arts a Family Affair for Musician and Teacher

Audience members were enthralled at the performance in Newark. (Edward Dai/The Epoch Times)

NEWARK, NJ—Audience members celebrating the start of the Year of the Ox filled the New Jersey Performing Arts Center in Newark to watch Divine Performing Arts (DPA).

Pianist Mr. Aquino and his wife brought their two young children to the opening night on January 26.

“I enjoy the show very much and actually my little two-year-old is sitting there mesmerized by it,” Mr. Aquino said.

“I was a little scared bringing him here to see how he would be. He’s loving it and my six-year-old [is] as well. So if we can keep them occupied and into the show, I mean, this show is for anybody and everybody,” he said.

He said the arts are lacking in public schools, so he and his wife wanted their children to see a performance like this, which encapsulates the 5000-years of Chinese culture.

“With a lack of arts and everything in the public schools, its great to see a group like this going out and performing, you don’t see that today, [it] is sad. I want to see the arts out there,” he said.

Mr. Aquino was particularly impressed with the ethnic sound of the Chinese instruments, such as the two stringed Chinese erhu, combined with the western orchestra, which brings a unique flavor to each performance.

“It was just beautiful,” said Mr. Aquino.

DPA’s orchestra brings together Chinese and Western music traditions, with Western instruments as its base. Chinese musical flair through a variety of Chinese instruments.

Ms. Aquino was also very happy with the show.

“It is just wonderfully spectacular. They are doing a great job,” Ms. Aquino said.

The final two Newark shows will be held today, at 1:30pm and 7:30pm.

  Please see DivinePerformingArts.org for more information.