The LAS PIÑAS BOYS CHOIR, LPBC, the well-known group of young singing boys proud to be identified as one of the few surviving “Boys Choirs” in the Philippines, has established themselves not only in the cultural and musical inheritance of our country but in the local and international music scene as well. Under the artistic direction of Professor Armando Salarza, the sixth and incumbent conductor and musical director of the LPBC, the group has been regular performers in the annual Bamboo Organ International Music Festival and emerged champion at the 2005 Vivere Choral Competition and has gotten the 2005 & 2006 Aliw Awards nominations as Best Chorale Group.
With these remarkable achievements, the LPBC has taken on the challenge of launching their new theme “Las Piñas Boys Choir: A Legacy of Musical Achievement.” Professors Salarza, a former boys choir member himself, is now rigorously preparing the LPBC and is in search of new challenges to widen their horizons and share their rich musical heritage. The LPBC will thus be representing the Philippines in the forthcoming WORLD CHOIR GAMES in Graz, Austria on July 09-10, 2008 and will be having a concert tour in Vienna, Berlin and Bonn.
The Las Piñas Boys Choir was founded in 1969 by a Belgian priest Fr.Leo Renier with the purpose of forming a choir to complement the historic Bamboo Organ, housed in the Parish Church of St. Joseph, some 11km south of Manila. The group is composed of young boys between the ages of 8 and 15. All boys are enrolled at the St. Joseph’s Academy where they enjoy academic scholarships and are directly exposed to the various cultural activities offered in and outside the institution.
In 1974, the group earned first place in the Third National Competition of Children’s Choirs. After winning the title of National Champion regular invitations followed at Malacañang Palace. At the Cultural Center of the Philippines, they joined in performances and productions such as Bernstein’s Mass (1976) Brahms’ Requiem (1978) Puccini’s La Tosca with the San Francisco Opera (1979) Mozart’s Magic Flute with the Opera Company of Boston (1983) Bizet’s Carmen (1985) and Britten’s War Requiem (1992). In 1989, 3 members of the choir were selected to join “The World’s Little Singers” in Paris.
It is at the annual International Bamboo Organ Festival held at St. Joseph’s Parish, Bamboo Organ Church that the boys perform the great masterpieces of religious music, among these works are: the great masses by J. Haydn and W. A. Mozart; the St. John’s Passion, the B minor Mass and several cantatas by J. S. Bach; anthems by G. Fr. Handel; Misa ng Sambayanan Pilipino by F. Feliciano; and the Gloria and Magnificat by A.Vivaldi. Few choirs, definitely no children’s choir in the country, are given the opportunity to be exposed in this way and with such high exacting standards.
Several former members have chosen a career in music here and abroad, or are active in the cultural life of Las Piñas, thus ensuring the future of a tradition established around the Bamboo Organ. Among them is Cealwyn Tagle, the first and only pipe organ builder in the Philippines, and Professor Armando Salarza, who became the conductor and musical director of the Las Piñas Boys Choir in 2003. Prof. Salarza’s formation in Graz and Vienna as organist and church musician for 10 years helped greatly in promoting the quality of the voices and the discipline of the group. Under his guidance, they bagged first place in the Vivere Choral Competition in 2005, and got nominated twice as Best Chorale Group in the 2005 and 2006 Aliw Awards.
Through long and enduring years of hard work and success, the Las Piñas Boys Choir has established a cultural inheritance in the local and international music scene. This year-long identity has remarkably elevated their status and gave them sole reason to launch their new theme ‘LAS PIÑAS BOYS CHOIR: A LEGACY OF MUSICAL ACHIEVEMENT’. Last July 14, 2007 they had their first major concert entitled ‘Journey to the World’- Part I at the Phil-am Life Theater, UN Ave Manila and to be followed by Part 2 at SM Mall of Asia Centerstage on October 13, 2007 at 8pm.
The 38 years of the Las Piñas Boys Choir (LPBC) have proven that there are still young people who feel rewarded not by money or stardom but by the mere satisfaction of a good performance, and who never stop striving for perfection: a refreshing sound in a country faced with so many difficulties.
For inquiries, please call the St. Joseph’s Academy at tel no.820-5454 local 121 and look for Zeny or Jan or the Bamboo Organ Foundation, Inc at tel. no. 510-3839.
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