NORTHRIDGE, Calif.—Musician and actor Nicholas Sayed purchased a front-row seat next to the orchestra when he attended Shen Yun Performing Arts’ evening show at the Younes and Soraya Nazarian Center for the Performing Arts on Jan. 16. He thoroughly enjoyed what he heard.

“It’s really great. It’s really awesome,” he said. “We’re sitting right by the orchestra, and so it’s really beautiful listening to the music. The performers are great, super into it. It’s just very enjoyable.”

Using classical Western orchestration as the foundation, Shen Yun’s original compositions feature traditional Chinese melodies and instruments such as the two-stringed erhu and the pipa—an ancient Chinese lute, creating a beautiful blend of Eastern and Western musical traditions.

Mr. Sayed appreciated the ingenuity and artistry of this fusion. “I enjoyed that very much,” he expressed. “I heard a trumpet at one part, and then along with the strings, it’s just really, really calming—the whole thing.”

Mr. Sayed was especially impressed by how well the music complemented the dance and brought out the personality of each character in the stories.

“I love the way [the composition worked,]” he shared. “Some of the notes are very punctuated, depending on what’s going on with the scene. It really adds to what the performers are trying to convey as well. I thought the whole thing was done very well.”

“That was very surprising,” he said. “Just the movement and the way the characters go off— that is very interesting. They actually switch wardrobe going off of the different visuals on the screen. That was very cool, that adds a lot to [the performance].”

Mr. Sayed was stunned by the skill of Shen Yun’s artists and their perfect timing. The dancers, orchestra, and backdrop all have to collaborate seamlessly for the beautiful illusion to take effect.

“Literally, in a matter of a second, they were switching,” he said. “There was one scene where they switched the entire wardrobe as well as the screen. ... It was very good, very cool.”

“You guys are amazing. You guys’ music and your performances are really great and enjoyable,” he said. “I’m very much enjoying being at Shen Yun.”