True North Duo performs with Salem Pops Orchestra May 10

Kristen Grainger is an award-winning singer-songwriter, and Dan Wetzel is an accomplished multi-instrumentalist and luthier.

Together, they form the True North Duo, a Salem-based couple whose acoustic harmonies have resonated at venues near and far.

They perform Americana, folk and bluegrass music featuring heartfelt lyrics about ordinary life and social change. They have recorded eight albums, composed more than 100 original songs, reached No. 1 on folk radio charts, won major songwriting contests, and toured nationally and internationally.

Arguably more famous beyond their hometown, they are about to connect with a new audience.

True North will be the special guests of Salem Pops Orchestra for its final concert of the season at 3 p.m. May 10 at the East Salem Community Center, 1850 45th Ave. NE.

For Grainger, it will check an item off her bucket list.

She has admired other artists who have performed with orchestras, thinking what a great opportunity it would be, but doubting she was popular enough.

“Especially when you realize that they take your original songs and arrange them for an orchestra,” Grainger said. “It’s just mind-blowing.”

Wetzel studied classical music in college before starting to play folk and bluegrass, meeting Grainger when their bands were booked at the same venue on the same night, falling in love, and eventually launching True North.

“This kind of ties it back in a way I hadn’t expected,” Wetzel said. “To me, it is a once-in-a-lifetime thing.”

Bridging the gap between classical and popular music

Symphony orchestras collaborating with musicians from other genres has long been a trend.

Orchestras aim to attract broader audiences and modernize the image of classical music. Rock, pop, folk and other artists look to expand their sound across genres and styles.

Modern examples, to name just a few, include the Indigo Girls, Metallica and Sting, who have all performed multiple times with symphony orchestras around the country.

Salem Pops is a 40-member, all-volunteer community orchestra. Participation is open to anyone able to play in an orchestral setting with confidence.

The nonprofit was established in 1962, patterned after the Boston Pops Orchestra, a pioneer in bridging the gap between classical and popular music.

Musicians come from Salem and surrounding communities and range in age from 16 to 80, with backgrounds as varied as the instruments they play.

They rehearse on Mondays from September to May in the band room at Walker Middle School and perform four concerts a season on Sunday afternoons.

True North chooses four original songs from catalog of 100+

Grainger and Wetzel were honored when invited to perform with Salem Pops but didn’t have symphonic arrangements for any of their songs.

“I mean, who does?” Grainger said.

Orchestra leaders told them no problem, they would take care of that.

The duo was left with but one dilemma: choosing four songs from an extensive catalog of originals.

They brainstormed together and with others, trying to imagine which of their songs would sound best accompanied by a full orchestra with string, woodwind, brass and percussion sections. They considered the mood of the song and the story behind it, and the way it was originally recorded.

They chose four songs, all written by Grainger.

Current, retired Salem Pops conductors create arrangements

Salem Pops Conductor Benjamin Garrett and former conductor Larry Harrington created the arrangements, each adapting two of True North’s songs for the orchestra.

Garrett is a horn player and former music educator, including a stint as band director at McKay High School.

Harrington conducted Salem Pops for a decade, retiring in 2012, and was a master chief musician and supervisor of bands during his 20-year service in the U.S. Navy.

They worked from lead sheets provided by Grainger and Wetzel, containing the melody, harmony and lyrics of each song.

Harrington worked in a makeshift studio in his south Salem home, with an electronic piano and computer. He used music notation software to help assign which instruments play which parts in each song.

“They’ve written some really beautiful music,” Harrington said. “I love their style. Dan and Kristen have a sound a lot like the Carpenters, who I’m very fond of, so it was easy for me to get involved.”

He has created orchestral arrangements for a variety of Salem Pops guest performers, from an Irish fiddler and a saw musician to The Severin Sisters, another local bluegrass duo.

The True North songs Harrington arranged were “Extraordinary Grace” and “Keep The River On Your Right,” the latter which earned Grainger first place in the folk category of the 2020 USA Songwriting Contest.

He lightly scored both songs, careful not to overpower Grainger and Wetzel. For the chorus of “Keep The River On Your Right,” though, he said he “cut the whole orchestra loose.”

Grainger and Wetzel were amazed when they heard a computerized playback.

“Already, it’s spine-tingling,” Wetzel said.

True North steps out of comfort zone, onto orchestra stage

True North rehearsed with Salem Pops for the first time on April 13. They spent about 45 minutes running through each song at least twice, pausing only a couple of times to discuss possible adjustments.

“I could tell it was going to come together pretty quickly; everyone came prepared,” said Garrett, who arranged “Don’t Take Me Back” and “Stop Me If I Told You This Before.”

The experience was new for Grainger and Wetzel, having to sing and play while also paying attention to a conductor. Wetzel reads music, while Grainger plays predominantly by ear.

“It was crazy different,” she said. “Talk about getting out of my comfort zone.”

Their fans may notice something different about the duo the day of the concert.

Orchestra members traditionally wear black attire, ensuring a uniform appearance that avoids distracting from the music. Grainger and Wetzel haven’t been asked to dress up and wear black, but that’s their plan.

“We’re used to wearing jeans and boots,” she said, “so this ought to be something.”

Salem Pops offers its special guests a modest stipend, but the experience is priceless for True North. They consider it a privilege to share the same stage and plan to savor every magical moment.

“There’s this certain thing that happens to the back of your neck when all of a sudden that big string section enters a song,” Wetzel said, “and that’s going to be happening on Kristen’s songs.”

Concert tickets are available online or at the door. Cost is $20 for general admission, $10 for students, and free for children 6 and under. The East Salem Community Center has a 700-seat auditorium.

Capi Lynn is a senior reporter for the Statesman Journal. Send comments, questions and tips to her at [email protected].