(Minghui.org) The Shen Yun Symphony Orchestra brought soul-stirring melodies of the East and West to the Washington D.C. Metropolitan Area on October 13, 2019 at the Music Center at Strathmore in North Bethesda, Maryland. Attendees showed their appreciation for the artists with a standing ovation.

Shen Yun Symphony Orchestra played to a full house at the Music Center at Strathmore in North Bethesda, Maryland, on October 13, 2019. 

Shen Yun Symphony Orchestra at the Music Center at Strathmore.

Erhu trio (left to right) Xiaochun Qi, Linda Wang, and Qin Lu.

Solo performance by violinist Fiona Zheng.

Standing ovation at the end of Shen Yun Symphony Orchestra's performance.

“Very High Level”

Artur Aksenov, concert pianist, said Shen Yun's musicians have, “Fantastic skills. Very great. Very high level.” 

Artur Aksenov, a concert pianist, attended the Shen Yun Symphony Orchestra’s concert at the Music Center at Strathmore in North Bethesda, Maryland, on October 13, 2019.

“Very professional design of the music,” he said. “I’m not like a regular audience member. I’m professional musician, [and] I have a different impression. I can, first of all, listen to its fantastic skills of the musicians, of the orchestra, the conductors.

“Every, every musician—very great, very high, high level,” Mr. Aksenov said. 

“It's Really Breathtaking”

John Hemleben, Dean of Academics, Marine Corps College of Distance Education and Training, called the Shen Yun Symphony, “A great performance...it is wonderful!”

John Hemleben, Dean of Academics, Marine Corps College of Distance Education and Training, said of the performances, “Beauty about this is you can focus on the music... So it’s really breathtaking... And the percussion is just fantastic. So it’s a great, great performance.” 

“[We’re] humans here on earth, I mean. If we were just something out of the abyss, we wouldn’t need music, would we?

“But we are human beings, created from God and by God... So, yes, I totally believe that [music] is, it is a gift from God. It is—it is wonderful,” he said.

“Greatest Orchestra I've Ever Heard”

Dale Whittington, retired choral teacher said, “Just brilliant! I'm glad that I lived long enough to hear this.” 

Dale Whittington, a retired choral teacher, was moved by the Shen Yun Symphony Orchestra. “It’s the greatest orchestra I’ve ever heard... Super impressive,” he said. “Just brilliant playing, a sensitive performance all evening.

“For the violin it takes years and years and years to develop proficiency... [Fiona Zheng]’s an artiste. She’s magnificent. I loved it.

“I’m glad that I lived long enough to hear this,” Mr. Whittington said. 

“Sacred Experience”

Lakshmi Barbara Carpenter, psychotherapist

Lakshmi Barbara Carpenter, a psychotherapist, said,“It's very sacred experience.” 

She explained that listening to Shen Yun brought the audience to another world that is peaceful and compassionate. She felt “inspired” by each piece in the program. 

“I Was on a Cloud”

Stanley Brock, a lawyer, said, “I loved it. It was other-dimensional. I was in the sixth dimension. I was on a cloud.” 

“I loved the conductors as well, who were so into what they were doing. It's beautiful. That was a performance in and of itself,” Mr. Brock said. 

Shen Yun Symphony Orchestra will continue its tour with performances in Chicago, Illinois, on October 19; and Boston, Massachusetts, on October 25. 

Tickets and more information can be found at: www.shenyun.com/symphony.