About Us
Meet the Fountain Hills Saxophone Quartet
Since 2013, the Fountain Hills Saxophone Quartet (FHSQ) has been delighting audiences in the greater Phoenix area with its expert musicianship and its often-humorous, always-engaging rapport with audiences. This versatile group gets toes tapping and hearts singing with music that covers every genre, decade and continent. Whether they’re playing background music to create the right ambience at an event or they're putting on a show that shares the fascinating history behind their music, the FHSQ is known for performances that are varied, memorable and expertly tailored to each audience. The quartet includes:
Jeffrey Anthony
(soprano): Jeffrey joined the FHSQ in 2020, bringing a rich saxophone pedigree to the group. He earned a Bachelor of Music Education (BME) degree at Indiana University, where he studied with the legendary Eugene Rousseau. He then went on to receive a master's degree in saxophone performance under Joseph Wytko at Arizona State University, touring internationally with the Wytko quartet. Some years later, feeling it was time for another degree, he earned a Master of Sacred Music degree from Luther Seminary. Jeffrey serves as the traditional music director at Desert Hills Presbyterian Church (DHPC), and he teaches organ, piano, and woodwinds at Desert Hills Community School of Music, located on the campus of DHPC.
Heather Baldwin
(alto): Known as “the Captain” for having served in the U.S. Army, Heather co-founded the FHSQ in 2013 and has been its alto player for the group’s entire 10-year existence. Heather is a graduate of Michigan State University, where she studied saxophone under James Forger. She earned a degree in English, which she puts to use as the FHSQ’s storyteller and spokesperson. Heather owns Fountain Hills Piano, a thriving piano studio in Fountain Hills, and serves as director of administration for the Desert Hills Community School of Music.
Donna Wilde (tenor): Vocalist and saxophonist Donna Wilde joined the FHSQ in 2015, augmenting the group’s sound with her incredible vocal talent. Donna earned a music degree at the University of Wisconsin—River Falls and has done just about everything in music since then: show band member on Carnival Cruise Lines, backing singer/saxophone player behind big-name entertainers, public school music teacher, and songwriter. Donna teaches voice and saxophone at the Phoenix Conservatory of Music. She also performs regularly with the S’mile Band and her duo WildeP’lay at many of the top music venues around metro Phoenix.
Dale Nelson
(baritone): Dale co-founded the FHSQ in 2013 and does the heavy lifting for the group. Not only does he haul around the largest saxophone, he also handles the group’s management, to include booking shows, finding new music, and making friends with arrangers around the world to ensure the FHSQ gets first dibs on the best new literature and arrangements. A graduate of the University of Wisconsin—Madison, Dale studied saxophone under Fred Hemke, then went on to a career as a medical products sales rep. Dale is affectionately referred to as “The Badgerer”—due 10 percent to his alma mater and 90 percent to his unparalleled ability to badger the rest of the group into practicing.
