'Show Me the Paths' Brings Music and Meaning to The Mountains

The first notes don’t begin with music, but with a question: what does it really mean to be welcomed home?

That question will linger in the air on the quiet Sunday afternoon of May 17, just before the music starts at East Tennessee State University’s Martin Center for the Arts in Johnson City, Tennessee.

It’s a special Symphony of the Mountains program focusing on bringing music to those who are unsheltered, playing for them at shelters across Tri-Cities. The ETSU event features internationally acclaimed Kruger Brothers, performing thought-provoking lyrics by songwriter and activist Si Kahn.

The world premiere of a newly commissioned symphonic work by the Kruger Brothers, blending Appalachian musical traditions with a full orchestra, will also be featured.

The Symphony is offering free admission to students, children and anyone who can’t afford a ticket, as well as group discounts.

It’s a clear effort to make the event more accessible and inclusive. This event is not about money, but about the message it will bring, according to organizers.

"Show Me The Paths" is more than just another concert. It brings together music and real-life stories in a way that invites the audience to think about connection, belonging and what “home” truly means.

For Symphony of the Mountains, this performance goes beyond a typical seasonal show. It is part of their Paths

to Dignity initiative, a program focused on bringing people experiencing homelessness into artistic spaces—not just as audience members, but as participants.

Artistic Director Cornelia Laemmli Orth says the idea started a few years ago with a simple goal: to create a space where music could be healing.

“The core idea started about three years ago when we wanted to create a program where people who are unsheltered could experience a healing space through music,” she said. “We invite everyone in the community to sing together, hoping people leave feeling like music united them.”

That sense of connection shows up throughout the entire performance. It’s especially clear in the work of The Kruger Brothers, who blend bluegrass with classical elements. Even though they’re internationally known, many say their music feels personal, and that is partly because of their own past experiences with housing instability. That foundation adds a level of authenticity to both their storytelling and their music.

Their collaboration with the Symphony mixes two styles you don’t usually hear together, the big, full sound of an orchestra and the more personal, story-driven feel of folk music.

At the center of the concert is the premiere of "Here Is My Home," written by Jens Kruger and translated into song by Si Kahn. The piece focuses on the idea that home isn’t always a physical place; instead, it can come from relationships, community and shared experiences.

Si Kahn emphasizes how music itself helps create that connection.

“It’s not just the words—it’s the music,” he said. “We respond to music in ways we don’t always understand. It makes us feel something, whether it’s happiness or sadness.”

The concert will shift back and forth between music and storytelling, starting with Elgar’s “Nimrod,” which is known for how emotional it is. Throughout the performance, Lee Eskey will share spoken stories in between the music, giving the audience a chance to pause and take it all in before the next piece starts.

Organizers say the goal isn’t just to entertain—it’s to create an experience.

"Show Me the Paths" invites the audience to do more than just listen, encouraging them to think about the stories behind the music and the people those stories are about.

To purchase tickets, visit here.