Carpe Diem String Quartet, in residence at Ohio Wesleyan University, is an exciting group that has captured the imagination of audiences, the respect of critics, and is becoming one of the most versatile ensembles of their generation. Carpe Diem has earned critical acclaim with innovative programs, electrifying performances, and a passion for audience engagement.

This season, Carpe Diem continues several ambitious projects, including the complete recordings of the nine string quartets of Sergey Taneyev on the Naxos label. The quartet continues its collaboration with Columbus Dance Theater; and their joint project "The String Machine” was aired by WOSU-PBS television through 2007-2008. Carpe Diem has created an exciting program with international accordion and bandoneon performer Peter Soave, "¡Viva Piazzolla!” This program was featured in June 2008 at the prestigious Fontana Music Festival. This season, Carpe Diem is launching a dynamic new concert series in Columbus called “Seize The Music.”

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 recital. The quartet is dedicated to giving back to the community, and has created two new programs, MusiCare, and Music Goes To School, that will enable Carpe Diem to bring music to everyone in the Central Ohio area, regardless of their means or circumstances.

The quartet, violinists Charles Wetherbee and John Ewing, violist Korine Fujiwara, and cellist Diego Fainguersch, 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. The quartet has designed programs for schools that are interactive and hands-on for the students, and relate to core academic classes. All of Carpe Diem’s concert tours are paired with outreach and educational activities.  

Carpe Diem champions the music of living composers, and has premiered and given first Mid-West performances of works by Osvaldo Golijov, Nicholas Maw, Donald Harris, Gunther Schuller, Ken Fuchs, Clancy Newman, Andre Hajdu, Jonathan Leshnoff, Carter Pann, Bruce Wolosoff, Kevin Putts, Richard Smoot, William Thomas McKinley, Danny Elfman, Frank Bennett, Korine Fujiwara, and Eric Sawyer, among others.