2025 THE GREAT STATE OF MAINE HOMESCHOOL CONFERENCE
Augusta, Maine May 2-3, 2025
Join us for the largest homeschool event ever held in Maine!
Sawyer Fredericks, unschooled graduate from rural New York 2015 Winner of NBC’s The Voice
May 2nd 4pm
We are THRILLED to announce our special guest speaker and performer on Friday, May 2nd at 4pm Come hear Sawyer talk about his inspiring unschooling journey, which led to him auditioning and WINNING NBC’s The Voice! Sawyer will perform a mix of covers and original music, and answer questions from the audience. Come be absolutely wowed and moved by Sawyer’s gentle soul.
Sawyer not only won The Voice, but he won playing a MAINE MADE guitar!
Americana singer-songwriter, Sawyer Fredericks, hailing from a farm in central New York, began playing local farmers markets, open mics, and iconic New York venues at the age of 12. With his deep, beyond-his-years original lyrics and melodies, soulful vocals, and powerful live performances, Sawyer seemed an unlikely match for reality tv, but he won over audiences to win season 8 of NBC’s The Voice.
Sawyer’s Unschooled Journey
Sawyer Fredericks was unschooled after 2 weeks at his local kindergarten. The youngest of three boys, he and his brothers were unschooled together on their farm, with their mom & dad guiding and helping them find their passions.
From a very young age, Sawyer’s creativity and independent thinking was evident and that passion didn’t always align with the structure or lesson plans of his teachers in a traditional school setting. Even when doing something he loved and was interested in, like guitar lessons, he didn’t enjoy the traditional teaching methods but as soon as his uncle taught him a few chords on the guitar at age 11, he started writing songs.
Unschooling gave him the freedom and time to follow his creative interests and allowed him to follow his passion and achieve his goals.
Sawyer began performing whenever and wherever he could at the age of 12, local farmers markets, open mics, and venues. At 14, he released his first studio album, Out My Window. At 15 he was invited to audition for The Voice after the talent scouts saw videos of him performing on YouTube. His blind audition had a four-chair turn from the coaches, and he went on to win Season 8 at the age of 16.
Since then, he has released 3 albums and will be releasing another this Spring. His songs have had premieres in People Magazine, American Songwriter and Billboard and won Independent Music Awards. He has toured the country several times, performing at many festivals and prestigious venues like Caffe Lena, the Falcon Ridge Folk Festival, the City Wineries and had official showcases at SXSW, AmericanaFest, Folk Alliance International, and BMI’s Island Hopper Songwriter.
Questions?
If you have questions about The Great State of Maine Homeschool Conference or need assistance, contact us today
Share the event on Facebook!