In this interview, sound engineer Tahu Parkinson shares his journey from growing up in New Zealand to working behind the scenes with Shen Yun Performing Arts.
Originally trained as a musician, Tahu reflects on his path to sound engineering. He shares how his role now centers on preserving the orchestra's natural, expressive sound while enhancing the live performance experience.
He also speaks about his search for meaning, how his faith shapes his perspective, and what it’s like to experience the show night after night from just behind the stage.
He speaks about: 00:00 – Meet Tahu Parkinson, Sound Engineer 00:19 – From Musician to Sound Engineer 00:37 – What His Role Involves 01:06 – Shaping the Sound of the Orchestra 01:35 – A Search for Meaning 02:20 – Experiencing the Show from Behind the Scenes 03:07 – Moments That Stand Out in Performance 03:50 – A Mindset for Growth
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Shen Yun Performing Arts presents colorful and exhilarating performances of classical Chinese dance and music. A performance by Shen Yun is a presentation of traditional Chinese culture as it once was: a study in grace, wisdom, and the virtues distilled from the five millennia of Chinese civilization.
My name is Tahu Parkinson
I'm originally from New Zealand
born and raised and
I moved to the US in 2019
to join Shen Yun
as a sound engineer
which I've been working since then
I originally started as a musician
When we were young
we used to play music
in a family band
and tour around
And as I developed
I started to write music
And then that led me into
the sound production side of things
As a sound engineer
a touring sound engineer
we also do a lot of in-house work here
regarding the in-house concerts
We're exposed to a very broad amount
of different types of sound engineering
You may come in with a single
specific skill set
and we're given the opportunity here
to really evolve
and be dynamic
in different ways
and expand our skill sets
We are trying to maintain
the natural sound
that's coming from the orchestra itself
So be transparent
but at the same time
make what sound
is coming from the orchestra
as rich and
as energetic as possible
And we've gone through a whole process
of testing digital and analog
and we've found that the sonic qualities
of the analog equipment
is something we like
and something that suits us
From a young age
I was very interested
in the meaning of life
I started with martial arts
and then that led me into
the body-mind experience
and then while I was in audio school
I actually met a Falun Dafa practitioner
who was a student with us
and the exercises had
an extremely powerful effect on me
and then after I had read the main teachings
Zhuan Falun
all the questions that I had been
seeking in my life
were answered
For me it was no doubt
there was no doubt in my mind
that this was something
I'm going to practice
for the rest of my life
The absolute treasure
of my position is that
you know, I'm able to view the show
close to 100 times in a season
Even after seeing the show
that many times
the amount of detail
and the depth
and the immense amount
of creativity
that's presented in the show
I can't take
in one sitting
And being able
to integrate the sound
into the performance
is very much
a very spiritual experience
to be honest
And when you feel the experience
you know, musically and sonically
and you're able to see
what the dancers are doing on stage
it can be very moving
The opening scenes
are always so majestic
and they really transcend
our whole viewpoint from
this ordinary world
into a heavenly paradise
And then from the artistic perspective
I really am moved
by the male classical Chinese dance
and the female classical Chinese dance
That for me is a showcase of
of just the exceptional talent
that these dancers are presenting
And then finally, the Monkey King
that still have that inner child
and, you know, are very playful
and a little mischievous
That's a real treat
It's hard to choose, but
there's some good stuff
I think the most important thing
is the attitude
As long as I've
been able to maintain a positive attitude
you can always overcome the challenge
You can always make the improvement
And with Falun Dafa as the foundation
of my whole world view
it's given me such an open mindset
And as long as I'm open-minded
to be able to improve myself
and look at myself
in the process
then I'm able to let go
of the things that are inhibiting me
and make the right decisions
to elevate myself
spiritually and mentally
and physically
So, be open-minded
and enjoy the ride
