"You have a distinct style of writing that can be developed into something quite wonderful."
- Kevin Ure {Composer / Teacher}
  (Overview UMusic Composition Services, June 12, 2008. - www.uremusic.com)

"Thank you so much for such a beautiful musical tributed to my husband. I'm truly touched that you wrote such a lovely and moving piece in honor of Peter. I know that he would have been so proud of you for pursuing your passion in classical music. You're inspiring me to starting composing again..."
-Caroline Alexander {Composer}
(Private Letter to Composer, July 18, 2016. - www.alexanderpublishing.com) 

Back sometime around 1984-the same year Apple Computer first marketing the Macintosh and Michael Jackson, Madonna, and Prince all had hits in the pop charts- Lester Orengo-Olavarria (better known as Van Lester) began dedicating himself to performing and arranging popular music in the "SALSA" genre. Nine years later that was all going to change. As he explains the transformation:

"I was on tour in Anchorage, Alaska, in the summer of 1993, when I received a CD of Beethoven (1770-1827) and I found myself listening to Sonata No. 8 "Pathetique" Opus 13 - 2nd movement while looking out of my hotel window. Between the beautiful music and the wonderful panoramic view of the Alaskan mountains, I was deeply captivated. I said "This is music!" The difference between popular music and classical music became evident to me; I want to learn more. When I returned back home to Brooklyn, New York, I found myself researching as many books on classical composers and their music as I could. Then I came across "Principles of Orchestration" by Nikolay Rimsky-Korsakov (1844-1908). This is when I started to intensely study his scores, in particular "Scheherazade", Opus 35 - 3rd movement (entitled The Young Prince and Princess). I was captivated all over again, this time by this composer's music and style of writing. Inspired by Rimsky-Korsakov, I composed my first string quartet, Twelve short pieces for string quartet Opus 1. Two other composers that inspired me was Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky (1840-1893) and Igor Stravinsky (1882-1971) - a pupil of Rimsky-Korsakov. I hope that my music will inspire other composers to write music and not be afraid to trust their instincts. I would like for my music to reach audiences world wide and to be one of the composers that serious music listeners will study and appreciate.

We should be thankful to God himself for all the beautiful and wonderful gifts he has given to each one of us. In my case, it is the gift of being able to write music and transmit a message to an audience."

- Source: Notion's Newsletter "VIBRATO" - Feature Composer 2009