The restoration of the Las Pinas Bamboo Organ, headed by Leo Renier, was the turning point of it all. The very first Bamboo Organ Festival was held to celebrate the restoration of this instrument. Now, at its 35th year, the festival continues to promote the instrument as a national treasure, and the beauty of its music.

The festival, though it is held in a catholic church (where the bamboo organ is permanently located), is participated by a combination of artists and performers from different religious sectors. It takes exceptional talent, and dedication to play the bamboo organ. So it is with great pride that the festival continues to showcase these internationally acclaimed Filipino and Foreign organists to serenade us thru different concerts and programs held night after night from February 18-24, 2010.

The 35th edition of the International Bamboo Organ Festival feature several musical masterpieces from various periods.  JS Bach’s Cantata no. 130 and John Rutter’s Mass of the Children highlighted the opening Gala Concert.  Swiss organist Guy Bovet, Filipino organist Alejandro Consolacion II, the Las Pinas Boys Choir, and the UP Singing Ambassadors, are the featured performers of the evening.  Other artists are soprano Karina Gay Balajadia-Liggayu, countertenor Mark Anthony Carpio, tenor Ervin Notes Lumauag, bass Noel Azcona and the Festival Orchestra under the baton of Eudenice Palarauan.

The Festival has always designated one night exclusively for organ music.  February 19, organist Guy Bovet from Switzerland is the featured artist for An Evening of Organ Music.  One evening has likewise been customarily set aside for less serious musical fare.  Entitled Concert under the Trees, the event is in fact one of the best-attended evenings of the Festival.  Feb. 20, the Singing Priests from Aklan, the Morriz Wind Orchestra and the Philippine newest pop diva, and 2007 Pinoy Pop Superstar Grand Champion, Ms. Maricris Garcia. Organ and Trumpet are an essential combination in Baroque music- organist Jarek Malanowicz from the Czech Republic and Filipino trumpet player Robert de Pano will play as a duet in the concert of February 21.

February 23, works by Filipino composers National Artist Lucio San Pedro, Fr. Domingo Carceller, OAR and Alejandro Consolacion II will perform in this concert dedicated to Filipino music and entitled Saring Lahi.  Organists Armando Salarza and Rea Jimenez, the Las Pinas Boys Choir and soloist Bernard Caro, tenor Ervin Notes Lumauag, baritone Jonaf del Fierro, bass, Noel Azcona, and the Festival Orchestra are the performers for this event.  Also part of the program are the Kasilag Trio (guitarists), named after the late National Artist Lucrecia Kasilag, while Eudenice Palaruan is the conductor for the evening.

The Festival ends with a repeat of the Gala Concert on February 24, this time renamed Bach and Rutter, with Bach’s Cantata no. 130 and Rutter’s Mass of the Children, but with Czech organist Jarek Malanowicz playing the organ numbers.  Rutter’s work is a choral work for soprano and baritone solo, SSA and SATB choirs and chamber ensemble.  The composer is well-known for works dedicated to children.