MIAMI—As a video director at Sony Music, Lourival Rodriguez knows when he hears something special.

On Oct. 25, he and his friend, Melissa Chiang, attended the Adrienne Arsht Center Knight Concert Hall to experience the Shen Yun Symphony Orchestra. Mr. Rodriquez described the performance as “a once-in-a-lifetime experience.”

He’s right, in fact—this year’s performance will never be repeated. Also, Shen Yun boasts the world’s only Western symphony orchestra featuring Chinese instruments as permanent members. Put another way, the symphony is very much one-of-a-kind.

“I think that’s a great mix,” said Mr. Rodriguez, referring to how the ethnic infusion of Chinese instruments plays against the backdrop of the full Western symphony.

Shen Yun presents China’s 5,000 years of culture and music in a way that has never been done before.

Mr. Rodriguez said he feels there is a lot to learn from traditional Chinese instruments. “I think they should be used more in modern music.” He said doing so would improve today’s music quality.

“At least for me, it’s brought me a lot of excitement and inspiration,” he added.

While Mr. Rodriguez is a professional in the music industry, he is among the many whose hearts have been touched by the music of the New York-based Shen Yun Symphony Orchestra.

The orchestra is not new to wowing theatergoers. In fact, it has inspired 10-minute-long standing ovations at Carnegie Hall and the Kennedy Center.

Moreover, the orchestra’s musicians hail from five continents, and the melodies they play come from the Middle Kingdom—that is, ancient China.

Mr. Rodriguez said listening to Shen Yun’s music is like time travel, and it brings inner peace and an experience in another dimension.

For those eager to journey into the world of ancient China, the Shen Yun Symphony Orchestra will perform next in Sarasota, Fla., on Monday, Oct. 27, at the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall.

Reporting by Jada Yeung and Adam Miller

New York-based Shen Yun Symphony Orchestra comprises musicians from the four Shen Yun Performing Arts touring companies. Epoch Times considers Shen Yun Performing Arts the significant cultural event of our time.

The orchestra’s North American tour runs through Oct. 27. For more information, visit http://www.shenyunperformingarts.org/symphony