As Marquette prepares for Earth Day, the local soprano and guitar duo Deux Saisons is transforming a typical night at the distillery into a performance with a purpose. Christopher Schoelen and Keri Lee Pierson recently sat down with Kurt Hauswirth to discuss their upcoming fundraising concert on Friday, April 24th, and how their partnership blends classical artistry with environmental advocacy.
The duo’s name, French for "Two Seasons," serves as a clever bridge between their personal histories and their shared interests. Formed during their graduate studies in South Carolina, the moniker highlights the contrast between Schoelen’s upbringing in Vermont's northern climate and Pierson’s tropical Florida roots. Beyond geography, the name reflects their early history of performing in breweries (where they shared a fondness for Saison-style beers) and their extensive repertoire of French classical pieces.
While the pairing of a classical guitar and a soprano is inherently intimate, the duo curates their music to fit specific themes. For the Earth Day performance, they have selected a mix of Renaissance works, folk arrangements, and contemporary commissions. Audience members can expect to hear pieces by composer David Leisner, whose work features poetry centered on the natural world. These selections are particularly resonant for Upper Peninsula residents, with lyrics that describe the slow accumulation of snow and the iconic juniper tree.
This event marks the sixth iteration of the duo’s Earth Day series, a tradition that began as a virtual fundraiser for a Florida sea turtle hospital during the pandemic. This year, the focus is placed on two Marquette organizations: the U.P. Land Conservancy and Partridge Creek Compost.
Kurt Hauswirth spoke with Pierson and Schoelen about the concert:
For Deux Saisons, sustainability is more than just a concert theme; it is a daily practice. The duo utilizes iPads for sheet music to reduce paper waste, and Schoelen plays a specialized "Earth Series" guitar crafted from sustainable woods. Even his guitar strings are recycled through a specialized mailing service rather than being discarded.
The Earth Day Concert takes place at The Honorable Distillery in Marquette on Friday, April 24th, with music beginning at 6pm. A themed, floral-inspired draft cocktail will be available all day, with proceeds benefiting the U.P. Land Conservancy. Donations are accepted for the U.P. Land Conservancy and Partridge Creek Compost.
For more information on the duo, visit their website at deuxsaisonsduo.com.
