Wilson Sawyer composed the Symphony no. 1, known as the Alaskan Symphony, at Gypsy Trail, Carmel NY in1945. In December of that year the Symphony was first performed by the American Symphony Orchestra coast to coast and rebroadcast to the armed services overseas with the composer conducting. The Honorable Gov. Ernest Gruening was guest speaker on the program and later requested the original score to be placed in the Alaskan Museum of Natural History [Alaska Historical Library and Museum] in Juneau.

The Sawyers lived in Carmel until they moved to Pawling because of his wife’s health problems. Because of the financial hardship trying to make a living on musical composition, Sawyer opened the Pawling Laundromat in 1960. He says, in a letter to Alaska Lt. Gov. Lowell Thomas, Jr., Sept. 1975, “One year ago a world famous violinist [probably Arthur Schuller] came into our laundry looking for a phone. He remembered my symphony and recognized me. In short this is how I received a new lease and may find a place in music again.” The letter was requesting that the recently rewritten score for the Alaskan Symphony replace the original version. The American Symphony Orchestra and the Hudson Valley Philharmonic performed the new version as part of the Antonio Vivaldi Tri-Centennial Concerts, Oct. 17, 18, 19, 1975 in Poughkeepsie NY with Wilson Sawyer conducting.

According to the 1975 program notes, “Wilson Sawyer was composing at the age of four, and conducted his own orchestra at thirteen. He graduated from Traverse City High School in northern Michigan and entered the University Of Michigan School Of Music. At Michigan, in addition to the orchestra he also conducted the University Women’s Glee Club, was conductor of Company A Soldier Choir and choir master of the First Congregational Church on the Campus. He was offered a commission to write two ballets in Chicago. This led him to New York City where he conducted the ABC Symphony.”

[From program notes, correspondence, and clippings in the collection.]