Sawyers began composing as a teenager and some of the works from this early period have enjoyed something of a renaissance in the past few years. The violin sonata of 1969 has received many performances in Europe in various cities including London, Paris, Brussels, Salzburg and Vienna. To hear the sonata online Google Steinberg Duo and click the listen button. The music is published by Waveney Music Publishing Ltd and is available online from Fuller Music (www.fullermusic.co.uk) or in music stores. (Spartan Music are the distributors)
The "Symphonic Music for Strings and Brass" of 1972 was performed and broadcast in the USA (2002-3) by the Grand Rapids Symphony Orchestra, Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra, San Antonio Symphony Orchestra, the World Youth Orchestra at the Interlochen Summer Camp, as well as in England, most recently by the Bridgewater Band.
"Four Poems for Flute and String Orchestra" (1971) were performed as part of the London Orchestra series with soloist Kenneth Smith, principal flute of the Philharmonia Orchestra. The Quintet for Clarinet and String Quartet (1969) was performed during the 2005 Guildford Summer Festival as well as performances as far afield as Grove Park in London and Clun in Shropshire.
Recent work included a commission for a symphony from the Grand Rapids Symphony Orchestra as part of their 75th anniversary season in 2005 where the composer enjoyed a standing ovation from the audience at the symphony's premiere.
The 2006 Guildford Festival included a new work, "Three Shropshire Songs" for mezzo-soprano, clarinet, and string quartet. Also that year saw the premiere of the new "Concertante for Violin, Piano, and String Orchestra" given in Blackheath, London, with further performances in Prague later in the year. The American connection is still strong with a new concert overture commissioned by the Albany (NY) Symphony Orchestra successfully premiered in Albany, New York State, in November 2006, and a further performance given in May 2007 in Arizona, by the Tuscon Symphony Orchestra.
The premiere of a new Octet commissioned by the exciting young ensemble Liquid Architecture was given as the opening work of the Chelsea Schubert Festival in September. To hear a studio recording of this work online visit Liquid Architecture Ensemble and select Liquid Architecture on MySpace Music.
In the USA last November the Omaha Symphony Orchestra gave two performances of the Symphonic Music for Strings and Brass.
Amongst commissions for 2008 was one for the 10th anniversary of the Sydenham Festival when the London Mozart Players premiered the 2nd Symphony conducted by Robert Trory to enthusiastic public acclaim. An online review can be found at www.classicalsource.com
There are further USA performances scheduled in 2008/9 and a proposed CD recording of some of the orchestral music is being negotiated.
The virtuoso nature of the 'Gale of Life' makes it no easy task for a professional orchestra, so it was remarkable to hear the Kent County Youth Orchestra under the inspired direction of American conductor Kenneth Woods give such a telling and musical performance in August 2008. For a fascinating insight into his work and to listen to the KCYO performance Google Kenneth Woods - A view from the podium KCYO 08 - Gale of Life.