What CARPE DIEM STRING QUARTET does

Carpe Diem String Quartet is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit professional chamber music ensemble (EIN 20-4351770) founded in 2007 and currently in its 18th season, operating from Powell, Ohio. The group performs contemporary classical string quartet repertoire, with a stated mission to champion living composers, undertake interdisciplinary artistic projects, and promote music as a healing art. Its core product is live concert performance, anchored by the '15 for 15 Commissioning Project' which commissions new works, and supplemented by multimedia projects such as 'An American Story,' educational workshops, masterclasses, and community engagement programming.

The quartet generates revenue through three streams: live performance fees and ticket sales at venues including Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall and international festivals such as the Avila International Music Festival; recordings released on Da Vinci Classics (notably 'Dances of the Yogurt Maker') and distributed via CD sales, merchandise, and Spotify streaming; and tax-deductible donations plus grants, including support from Mid Atlantic Arts through USArtists International in partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts, the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, and the Trust for Mutual Understanding. Its four current members are first violinist Sam Weiser (appointed 2025, formerly of the Del Sol Quartet), Marisa Ishikawa, Korine Fujiwara, and Ariana Nelson. Distribution spans live venue ticketing through its website (cdsq.org), e-commerce for physical media and merchandise, digital streaming, and earned media coverage including The New York Times and NY Concert Review. Recognition includes a 2022 Global Music Awards Gold Prize, inclusion in producer Judith Sherman's 2022 Grammy win, and NY Times editorial feature in 2021.

Name

CARPE DIEM STRING QUARTET

Legal name

Carpe Diem String Quartet

Website

https://carpediemstringquartet.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2007

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Carpe Diem String Quartet is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit professional chamber ensemble, founded in 2007 and based in Powell, Ohio, that performs contemporary classical repertoire, commissions new works, and sells recordings and concert tickets.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Chamber Music Performance

NAICS

Musical Groups and Artists (71113), Other Sound Recording Industries (51229), Music Publishers (512230)

SIC

Phonograph Records & Prerecorded Audio Tapes & Disks (3652)

akta.pro primary industry

Session Musicians & Vocalists (MPAIAHAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Music Production & Composition (Songwriting, Recording, DJing) (EDAMAAAF), Music Producers & Production Teams (MPAIAHAB), Group Music Classes & Ensembles (Band, Orchestra, Choir) (EDAMANAC)

Keywords

• Chamber music performances
• Contemporary string quartet
• Commissioned classical works
• Classical music recordings
• Music education workshops

Headquarters

HQ city

Powell

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Live Performance Revenue: Ticket sales from concerts at venues including Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall, international festival performances, and touring engagements.
2. Recordings and Music Sales: CD album sales through their online store, including albums like 'Dances of the Yogurt Maker' released by Da Vinci Classics. Also releases EPs and merchandise.
3. Donations and Grants: As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization (EIN 20-4351770), the quartet accepts tax-deductible donations and receives grants from organizations like Mid Atlantic Arts through USArtists International.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Carpe Diem String Quartet performs contemporary classical string quartet music at live venues and festivals, commissions new works from living composers, releases studio album recordings, and delivers educational workshops and masterclasses. The ensemble operates as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, generating revenue from concert ticket sales, performance engagements, recordings, donations, and grants.

Product overview

Carpe Diem String Quartet is a performing arts ensemble offering live concert performances of contemporary classical string quartet music, with core offerings including commissioned works through the 15 for 15 Commissioning Project, multimedia presentations like An American Story, community engagement programs, and educational workshops and masterclasses. The quartet also offers recorded albums, merchandise, and an electronic press kit through their online store. They operate as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization based in Powell, Ohio.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• 15 for 15 Commissioning Project: A commissioning project featuring 15 new works from 15 composers
• An American Story

Products and services

• Live Performances Concert performances of contemporary classical string quartet music at venues and festivals, including world premieres and repertoire by living composers. Performed for general classical music audiences and arts presenters.
• 15 for 15 Commissioning Project A commissioning initiative in which the quartet commissions 15 new works from 15 composers, culminating in live premieres and recording. Targeted at classical music audiences and arts presenters seeking contemporary repertoire.
• An American Story A multi-media project that combines string quartet performances with storytelling and visual elements. Performed for cultural event audiences and presenters.
• Workshops and Masterclasses Educational sessions led by quartet members, offered to aspiring musicians, students, and community groups as a standalone learning engagement.
• Dances of the Yogurt Maker (Album) Studio album of contemporary chamber music works performed by the quartet. Distributed via the online store and digital streaming platforms including Spotify.
• Piano Quintets Recording (Perrachio / Castelnuovo-Tedesco) Studio recording of Luigi Perrachio's and Mario Castelnuovo-Tedesco's Piano Quintets performed by the quartet with pianist David Korevaar, released by Da Vinci Classics. Sold through the online store.

Quantifiable outcome

• Featured in The New York Times '5 Minutes That Will Make You Love String Quartets' article
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Mid Atlantic Arts / USArtists InternationalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEngagement supported by Mid Atlantic Arts through USArtists International, a program in partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts, the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, and the Trust for Mutual Understanding. This partnership enables international touring to venues like Avila International Music Festival.
• Da Vinci ClassicscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDa Vinci Classics released the recording of Carpe Diem String Quartet and pianist David Korevaar performing Luigi Perrachio's and Mario Castelnuovo-Tedesco's Piano Quintets.
• Josie V PhotographyminorOthersPhotographs on the website and promotional materials are courtesy of Josie V Photography.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• JACK Quartet: New York-based contemporary string quartet widely recognized as a leading interpreter of modern and new music. Closely comparable in mission and repertoire to Carpe Diem, with a similar focus on commissioning and premiering works by living composers.
• Del Sol Quartet: San Francisco-based contemporary chamber string quartet, frequently performs works by living composers and shares former/overlapping membership with CDSQ (Sam Weiser was previously a member). Near-perfect functional and stylistic overlap with Carpe Diem.
• Borromeo String Quartet: Long-running contemporary-focused string quartet with strong commissioning practice and recording history. Comparable in scale, mission, and dedication to new-music chamber performance.
• Calder Quartet: Los Angeles-based contemporary string quartet that commissions and premieres new works and collaborates across genres. Directly comparable on repertoire choice, commissioning activity, and integrative programming approach.
• Brentano String Quartet: Long-established chamber quartet with deep catalog of recordings and active commissioning program. Same fundamental product offering (string quartet performing and recording standard and contemporary repertoire), with longer institutional track record.
• Jasper String Quartet: Philadelphia-based prize-winning string quartet with an active recording program and contemporary music focus. Comparable chamber ensemble with similar performing-artist profile and repertoire priorities.
• Argus Quartet: Young, contemporary chamber string quartet with strong commissioning track record and prize-winning profile. Closely aligned with CDSQ on size, repertoire focus, and career stage.
• ETHEL String Quartet: American contemporary string quartet known for interdisciplinary programming and cross-genre collaborations. Directly comparable to CDSQ on the dimensions of contemporary repertoire, multimedia productions, and audience development strategy.

Broad incumbents

• Kronos Quartet: Iconic contemporary string quartet with a much larger institutional footprint, broader audience, and iconic recording catalog. Operates in the same contemporary-chamber-music space but at meaningfully larger scale and broader portfolio.
• Emerson String Quartet: Legendary chamber string quartet with decades of high-profile performances and recordings. Operates in the same core product (string quartet concerts and albums) but skews more toward classical canon than CDSQ's contemporary focus.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/carpe-diem-string-quartet

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about CARPE DIEM STRING QUARTET