What a pleasure it is to have come across LHC! As an organization dedicated to preserving and promoting Puerto Rico’s classical music history, it is truly a relief to find LHC in an environment that often feels very siloed.

At Proyecto Olga Iglesias (501c3), our mission is to safeguard and celebrate Puerto Rico’s rich classical music legacy. Our musical heritage extends beyond plena, bomba, salsa, and reggaeton; many people are unaware that Puerto Rico was the classical music capital of the Western Hemisphere in the 1960s and 1970s. This was largely thanks to one of the most important classical musicians of the 20th century, Pablo Casals (half Boricua, half Catalan), who made San Juan his home in his later years. A two-time Nobel Peace Prize nominee, cellist, and composer, Casals selected Olga Iglesias as the primary soprano for his magnum opus, the Catalan oratorio El Pessebre, as well as for his art songs. Find her on any music streaming service (she was signed by Clive Davis!).

Olga left behind a remarkable but hidden collection documenting her career with Casals and many luminaries of her field—so much so that it has been recognized by both the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) and the Puerto Rican Foundation for the Humanities. Thanks to the NEH, we discovered an invaluable digital preservation resource: the Digital Library of the Caribbean (DLoC). With their trust and support, we have begun uploading this collection little by little, making it accessible to the public.

Through a grant from the Puerto Rican Foundation for the Humanities, we also have a Resident Humanist assisting with these uploads, along with other initiatives such as public school presentations. In these programs, we not only share this history but also perform Puerto Rican classical music repertoire including our very own commissioned children’s opera, La Batalla de los Clásicos, supported by the National Endowment for the Arts.

As the founder of this organization—and the grandson of Olga Iglesias—it is a joy, an honor, and a privilege to do this work. It is truly humbling. And what’s more, with LHC, I have a strong feeling we will be going places—both literally and figuratively. Thank LHC for existing and doing the work you all do!