Never fear, the Alexander String Quartet is here.

Although the Zehetmair Quartet canceled its national tour at the last moment, the Center for the Performing Arts is not leaving any gap in its fall lineup. Replacing the Zehetmair Quartet will be the Alexander String Quartet at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday in Schwab Auditorium.

The Alexander String Quartet has been playing since 1981. Its members include Zakarias Grafilo and Frederick Lifsitz on violin, Paul Yarbrough on viola and Sandy Wilson on the cello. The group is extremely cohesive; two of its founding members, Yarbrough and Wilson, are still playing with this touring group.

The band has quite a repertoire of music. In 1999, the Alexander String Quartet released a nine-CD set of Beethoven's works on the BMG music label. The band has brought its classical music stylings to the music capitals of four continents.

"We play over 100 concerts a year, mostly in the USA, with two or three trips to Europe or Asia every year," Wilson said

Wednesday's setlist will consist of Mozart's String Quartet No. 17 in B-flat major, Shostakovich's String Quartet No. 7 in F-sharp minor opus 108 and the String Quartet No. 8 in E minor opus 59 by Beethoven. There will be a brief intermission between the last two arrangements.

Laura Sullivan, marketing and communications director for the center, said students will be "introduced to classical string music in an intimate setting."

The accessible group should be able to bring classical music to the general public.

"We communicate the way only music can cross generations and centuries to people from all walks of life," Wilson said.

Although the musical selections are somewhat daunting, the quartet's performances aim to keep the audience involved.

"They have a real combination of intellect, élan and flair to their playing," Alexander String Quartet manager Robert Besen said. "Their playing is expressive and grabs one's ears."

The Alexander String Quartet is excited to be returning to Penn State. In 2001, the quartet played at the university for a World War II commemorative program. Wilson is enthusiastic about returning to Penn State, as she said Schwab is a "wonderful hall."

While the Alexander String Quartet is performing legendary masterpieces of classical music, the group is also attempting to make it tangible to the audience. Besen said that the group is "extremely comfortable, and they frequently speak to the audience."

Tickets are still available at Eisenhower Auditorium, the HUB Information Desk and at Penn State Ticket Center Downtown, 146. S. Allen St. This event is sponsored by the Village at Penn State.