About Medusa Saxophone Quartet
Medusa Saxophone Quartet (MSQ) is a professional, all-women saxophone quartet formed in April 2023. The members of MSQ come from different musical backgrounds and teachers, and each have a distinct profession. MSQ’s mission is to support historically excluded and marginalized communities through community outreach, performance, and intentional programming.
Medusa Saxophone Quartet prioritizes community engagement by performing at retirement homes, coffee shops, and other local businesses to share music with wider audiences. MSQ has partnered with organizations in Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, Virginia, and Oklahoma, with additional community engagement opportunities planned in Louisiana.
Medusa Saxophone Quartet actively collaborates with young, emerging, and professional composers. In 2024, MSQ launched the inaugural High School Student Composer Project in Louisiana. This initiative offers high school student musicians—whether new or experienced—a unique professional development opportunity. MSQ also collaborates with the New Works Project, a nonprofit dedicated to providing inclusive commissioning and publishing services, including educational programming and career resources for the musical community.
Medusa Saxophone Quartet regularly performs at regional, national, and international conferences and has appeared as guest artists at universities and public schools. Additionally, MSQ members have active solo and chamber engagements.
Medusa Saxophone Quartet is not just a name, but a symbol of resilience and empowerment. The ensemble is named for Medusa of Greek mythology, a figure whose story has been long misrepresented in history. Like the retelling of Medusa’s story, MSQ aims to provide a voice for historically excluded populations. To read more about the reclaimed story of Medusa, we recommend the following resources.
Meet the Musicians
Brianna Buck
Brianna Buck (she/her) is an active performer, collaborator, and educator. A passionate supporter of living composers, she has commissioned and premiered works by Marilyn Shrude, Aaron Kernis, and Emily Koh, among others. As a chamber musician, Brianna performs frequently as a member of Bia Duo with saxophonist Alexis Seah-Fritz and Medusa Saxophone Quartet. She was also a member of the award-winning Akōtu Quartet, placing 3rd at the 2021 MTNA Chamber competition.
Brianna has a strong commitment to teaching. In addition to her performance career, she works full-time as a software trainer, where she has been recognized for her exceptional performance and leadership. Brianna also maintains a private studio of middle and high school saxophonists, many of whom have achieved notable accomplishments, including making state-level ensembles and winning local and regional competitions.
Brianna received her undergraduate degree from Bowling Green State University and her graduate degree from Oklahoma State University. Brianna’s teachers include Dr. Jeffrey Loeffert, Dr. John Sampen, and Dr. Nathan Nabb. Through her varied experiences as a performer, educator, and mentor, Brianna continuously strives to create meaningful musical experiences that inspire audiences and students alike.
Jessica McCready
Jessica McCready is a music educator and saxophonist. In 2024, she became the band director at Sherwood Middle Academic Magnet School (SMAMS) in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, where she works with sixth through eighth graders.
As an educator, McCready prides herself on her leadership and mentorship and focuses on ensuring her students have a strong and positive relationship with music and music-making and strong musical literacy and fundamentals. As a performer, McCready prides herself on her chamber musicianship. She has been in several chamber groups that have gone to place and won in competitions; most notably, both Atlas (2022) and Quercus Alba (2023) competed and won the Hartt Chamber Music Competition within consecutive years. Now, McCready is the baritone saxophone player in the Medusa Saxophone Quartet, an all-women professional saxophone quartet formed in April 2023.
McCready holds a master's in saxophone performance from the Hartt School of Music, Dance, and Theatre under the director of Carrie Koffman and a music education degree from Central Washington University (CWU).
Alexis Seah-Fritz
Hee Cheng (Alexis) Seah-Fritz, 谢喜晴, is a Singaporean saxophonist based in the United States. She has given recitals and workshops at several international festivals such as the Asian Saxophone Congress, Great Plains Saxophone Workshop, North American Saxophone Alliance, Singapore Saxophone Symposium, and World Saxophone Congress. In the competitive circuit, Alexis has been recognized in acclaimed competitions including the Asia Pacific Saxophone Academy Young Artist Competition, Fischoff Chamber Music Competition, Music Teachers National Association Chamber Winds and Young Artist Competition, and North American Saxophone Alliance Chamber Competition.
Alexis received her education from Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts (Diploma in Music Performance, 2014), Royal College of Music-NAFA (Bachelor of Music w/Honours, 2016), Oklahoma State University (Master of Music, 2019), and University of Oklahoma (Doctor of Musical Arts, ABD). After completing her doctoral coursework at OU, Alexis stayed and served as the Interim Professor of Saxophone (2022-2024). Her teachers include Tang Xiao Ping, Leslie Wong, Kyle Horch, Jeffrey Loeffert, and Jonathan Nichol.
Alexis is currently the Operations Director of Great Plains Saxophone Workshop, while freelancing as an educator and performer in East Lansing, Michigan. In her spare time, she enjoys cooking, building Legos, and spending time with her cats Raven and Bear Beans.
Kendra Wheeler
Kendra Wheeler is emerging as a prominent force within her discipline. She is recognized for her interpretive insight, contributions to performance and education, and dedication to representation and inclusivity.
Wheeler's international artist, presenter, and educator profile is well-recognized. Her performances have graced venues and festivals across North and South America and Europe, including the Chicago Symphony Center, Ordway Center for Performing Arts, and Muzička akademija u Zagrebu. She has earned accolades from prestigious institutions and competitions such as the Concert Artists Guild (CAG), Vandoren Emerging Artist Competition (VEA), DOWNBEAT Magazine, and the Pan-American International Saxophone Competition.
Wheeler advocates for new, stylistically diverse, contemporary saxophone music, outreach, and communal initiatives. Key initiatives include the Folk Music Reimagined series and the Women of Color in Classical Saxophone Group. Wheeler is also the alto saxophonist in the Medusa Saxophone Quartet, a professional, all-women saxophone quartet formed in April 2023.
She is an Assistant Professor of Music at LSU and a performing artist for Eastman Artist, Légère Reeds, and Key Leaves.