Carpe Diem String Quartet
Bookings in Great Lakes states only
“The young Carpe Diem Quartet really sells these pieces. They help persuade me that Taneyev just might be the most underrated composer of the late 19th century.”
Lawson Taitte, The Dallas Morning News
“This performance was distinctive and well conceived. An unexpected, introverted reading of the first movement of the Shostakovich, with its dark colors, gave way to the nostalgia heard in the second movement, which was played with special care and attention, as if it were something that could be broken easily, and the chemistry between the musicians made this movement unforgettable.”
Dina Lentsner, Classical Music in Columbus
“It’s obvious from the inventive program that Carpe Diem has committed itself to forging a unique Identity.”
Mark Striker, Detroit Free Press
“I would like to convey to all of you, the members of the Carpe Diem String Quartet, my most sincere congratulations for a stellar performance of my fourth String Quartet. It was a wonderful experience: this was quartet playing of the highest caliber, my work receiving a virtually perfect performance. Carpe Diem plays with a keen attention to detail, and with and through that gets to the deepest expressive essence of the music.”
Gunther Schuller, Composer
ALSO SEE:
PRESS KIT
BIOS & PRESS
REPERTOIRE
SAMPLE PROGRAMS
EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS
PHOTO 1
PHOTO 2
PHOTO 3
AUDIO
PRIMAVERA PORTEÑA
ASTOR PIAZZOLLA
STILLWATER GORGE
KORINE FUJIWARA
DANCING ON MY GRAVE
WOLOSOFF
CZARDAS
THE SIMPSONS THEME
Carpe Diem String Quartet, in residence at Ohio Wesleyan University, is an exciting ensemble that has captured the imagination of audiences, the respect of critics, and is one of the most versatile quartets of their generation. Carpe Diem has earned critical acclaim with innovative programming, electrifying performances, and a passion for audience engagement. The group’s musical passion has led them down the paths of gypsy, tango, folk, pop, rock, and jazz inspired music, but the quartet is equally at home with the traditional string quartet repertoire. Carpe Diem has become the premier American “indie” string quartet.
Defying easy classification, the quartet continues to break boundaries and push the limits of the classical string quartet. Carpe Diem writes, arranges and performs music of all styles, and works with artists from many different genres. The quartet recently performed with American songwriter/guitarist Willy Porter, and the CD of their live concert will be available in fall of 2010. Also this year Carpe Diem will be collaborating with Latin Grammy winner Raul Juarena. Carpe Diem was recently featured in Strings magazine, highlighting their unique and innovative vision for chamber music. The quartet has a busy recording schedule, and continues its project of recording the nine string quartets of Sergey Taneyev for the Naxos label. The first CD of this series was selected for the 51st Grammy Awards Entry List (2009) in four categories: Best Classical Album, Best Chamber Music Performance, Best New Artist, and Best Engineered Album-Classical. The quartet is the resident ensemble for Columbus Dance Theater, and their joint project The String Machine was aired by WOSU-PBS television through 2007-2008, and nominated for an Emmy award.
The quartet is committed to changing the concert experience of chamber music. Using innovative programming, thematic concerts, and popular music for younger generations, cameras and video to assist in the visual presentation, as well as speaking from the stage to better engage the audience, Carpe Diem is bringing new audiences into the concert hall and revitalizing the chamber music experience.
The quartet, violinists Charles Wetherbee and John Ewing, violist Korine Fujiwara and cellist Kristin Ostling, is dedicated to music education and outreach, and regularly performs educational programs specifically designed to relate to students of all ages and establish classical music's relevance to their lives. Carpe Diem has developed three engagement programs by which they accomplish this – MusiCare, Music Goes to School,and carpe_diem_ kids@harrisonpark. Carpe Diem recently started a new program with generous support from PNC bank, called Music from the Start. Music from the Start will bring the quartet to Central Ohio Head Start programs on a regular basis.
Carpe Diem champions the music of living composers, and has premiered and given first Mid-West performances of works by Frank Bennett, Danny Elfman, Ken Fuchs, Korine Fujiwara, Osvaldo Golijov, Andre Hajdu, Donald Harris, Jennifer Higdon, Jonathan Leshnoff, Nicholas Maw, William Thomas McKinley, Clancy Newman, Carter Pann, Kevin Putts, Eric Sawyer, Gunther Schuller, Richard Smoot, and Bruce Wolosoff, among others.
