San Juan, November 2021 - Universidad Interamericana de Puerto Rico and Olga Iglesias Project Inc. signed a collaborative agreement that includes various aspects and according to Inter's president, licensed Manuel J. Fernós, would be the first step to achieve in the future that the San Germán Campus becomes the repository of the collections that document the career of the great Puerto Rican lyrical singer, Olga Iglesias.
San Juan, November 2021 - Universidad Interamericana de Puerto Rico and Olga Iglesias Project Inc. signed a collaborative agreement that includes various aspects and according to Inter’s president, licensed Manuel J. Fernós, would be the first step to achieve in the future that the San Germán Campus becomes the repository of the collections that document the career of the great Puerto Rican lyrical singer, Olga Iglesias.
“In the same way, this agreement allows us to develop cultural activities in common. For this reason we want to announce and invite the general public to the Inaugural Recital on November 18, at 7:00 PM, at the theater of the Metro Campus of Inter Metro with the participation of two singers awarded scholarships by the Foundation,” explained the president of Universidad Interamericana, Manuel J. Fernós.
The Inter president signed this collaboration agreement together with the executive director of Olga Iglesias Project, Anthony Cheney Guzmán, who is also the grandson of the late singer. This non-profit foundation aims to promote and sponsor the careers of a new generation of Puerto Rican classical singing artists and with the purpose of facilitating the study of a part of Puerto Rico’s classical musical heritage from the second half of the 20th century.
Scope of the Agreement
The agreement includes the ability to carry out academic cooperation projects in the discipline of music, obtaining external funds for the development of joint research activities in the area of music, exchange of resources, professors and students to carry out academic, research and teaching projects, organization and participation in seminars, workshops, meetings, conferences and symposiums of mutual interest, access to bibliographic materials, among other exchanges.
About Olga Iglesias
Singer Olga Iglesias was an outstanding soprano, native of San Juan, who participated throughout her career in various repertoires including oratorios, recitals, operas and zarzuelas. In the late fifties, she had her own television program on WAPA-TV. During that time she also participated in radio programs and offered concerts in the most important centers of the island, at the University of Puerto Rico and with the Puerto Rican Institute of Culture.
She sang alongside music personalities such as Jesús María Sanromá, Marta Montañez de Casals, Luz and Henry Hutchinson, father, José Enrique Pedreira and José Raúl Ramírez, among others. In 1956, the great Catalan-Puerto Rican maestro, Pablo Casals, met Olga Iglesias’s voice and they began working together. In 1958, Iglesias sang for the first season of the Casals Festival.
In 1962, she was chosen by Pablo Casals to sing the first participation of the oratorio El Pessebre in San Francisco. Iglesias sang this work in major cities of the United States, Europe, and Latin America in about 40 presentations. During those years, she had the privilege of singing on many occasions, under the musical direction of Pablo Casals. Olga Iglesias recorded for Columbia Records (now Sony) and these recordings are available on the most well-known music streaming applications and services.
Recital Information
According to Cheney Guzmán, the Inaugural Recital is free of cost. However, interested persons must access the website www.olgaiglesiasproject.org to make their reservations. Additionally, from this page interested parties can make a donation to contribute to the scholarship fund that the organization provides.
To obtain information about the November 18 recital and other future activities related to this agreement, follow the organization’s official social networks on Facebook, Instagram and Youtube through @olgaiglesiasproject and on INTER’s accounts: Facebook/interocs, Twitter, Instagram and Youtube through interpuertorico.