NEW YORK—Stylist Anna Kulikova teared up as she saw Shen Yun Symphony Orchestra perform at Carnegie Hall in New York, Saturday evening, Oct. 5.

“I’m impressed by the level of the quality,” said Ms. Kulikova, who has worked on photo shoots for Condé Nast publications like Allure, Glamour, The New Yorker, and GQ.

Ms. Kulikova said she felt close to the music performed. Shen Yun Symphony Orchestra played a mix of classical pieces, including Tchaikovsky’s “Polonaise” from “Eugene Onegin, Op. 24,” and original compositions, including “Creation,” by Jing Xian.

“I grew up with classical music, so I know it, and it really touched me inside,” Ms. Kulikova said.

“The orchestra melds the spirit, beauty, and distinctiveness of Chinese music with the precision, power, and grandeur of the Western symphony orchestra,” states the orchestra website.

The New York-based Shen Yun Symphony Orchestra is the first of its kind. The original compositions are inspired by the rich 5,000 years of Chinese history, and bring new life to the themes and styles from ancient times, according to the group’s website.

“I feel like once I even had tears in my eyes,” Ms. Kulikova said. “I would love to come back next year.”

Ms. Kulikova said it was a performance to attend “if you want to be impressed, to feel like magic.”