TORONTO—Christopher Bailey doesn’t normally go to “these types of things,” he said.

But Mr. Bailey, the director of marketing and ecommerce at Cosmo Music, does like new, different experiences. 

It makes sense then that when he went out for an evening of classical music, it would be to see an orchestra that is unique in the world.

“It was wonderful,” he said. “It was a great surprise.”

On Thursday evening, the Shen Yun Symphony Orchestra played its first ever performance in Toronto . Normally the orchestra travels with Shen Yun Performing Arts’ acclaimed classical Chinese dancers, but last night the music took centre stage.

The pipa, suona, and erhu are regular members of the Shen Yun Symphony Orchestra, which includes all the regular brass, wind, and wood instruments common in a Western orchestra, but broadens its range with traditional Chinese instruments as regular members.

“It was fantastic. It was a great journey—you really get caught up in the emotion of the music and the Chinese instruments. It’s just a great blend between the Western influence and the Chinese influence,” said Mr. Bailey. 

“It was great.”

The instruments make a distinct sound, he said.

“You can’t help but perk up and smile. It’s just an overwhelming feeling; it was really, really well performed.”

He said he was leaving that night with a great memory that he hoped his friends could also collect.

“It’s something I’m happy to have attended. I’m definitely going to tell other people they should come.”

With reporting by NTD Television

New York-based Shen Yun Symphony Orchestra comprises musicians from the four Shen Yun Performing Arts touring companies. 

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