Leo Renier

Leo Renier is a Belgian musician, living in the Philippines since 1969, responsible for the preservation of the Spanish Historical Organs in the Philippines and the revival of its organ culture. He is the moving spirit behind the performance of Baroque music in a country, which eventually may lead to the discovery of Philippine Baroque music. He is the founder of the Las Piñas Boys Choir (1969) and of the International Bamboo Organ Festival, held every year since 1976 at the St. Joseph’s Church of Las Piñas City, Metro Manila.

Born in Hasselt (Belgium) on February 22, 1944, he is the 6th child of a family of nine. Since grade 3 he was a member of the boys choir (Saviozangers) oof the"St.Jozefscollege" in his hhometownHasselt (Belgium). Two of the former choir conductors, Leo Van Nevel and Paul Schollaert () who later played a major role in the choir life of Flandres, have influenced his involvement in music for the rest of his life. During his high school days (1952–61), he took up organ (with Albert van den Born, organist at the Basilica of Our Lady in Tongeren, Belgium) and music history (with Camille Swinnen, musicologist and founder of the “Basilica Concerten”) at the Municipal Conservatory in Hasselt.

He joined the Mission Congregation of Scheut (CICM) in 1962. During his formation years, he was in charge of the Schola (Gregorian chant) and the liturgical music. When studying in Louvain (1964–68), he was a member of the team which spearheaded the renewal of liturgical music at the University Parish in line with the new directions of the Second Vatican Council. During that same period, he took up private lessons in harmony with Frans Mariman ().

He arrived in the Philippines in February 1969 and attended a language course before being assigned to the Parish of St.Joseph in Las Piñas, home of the Bamboo Organ. He stayed there as assistant parish priest and director of the parochial school until 1994. Soon after his arrival, he formed the "Himig Kawayan Boys Choir", which had their first public appearance during the Midnight Mass of Christmas of the same year. Three years later, the choir participated in the First National Children's Choir Competition, organized at the Cultural Center of the Philippines, where they ended with a third prize. Because of the many engagements that followed, Leo Renier contacted Engracio Tempongko, who had been the assistant of Fr.John Van de Steen CICM, conductor of the then famous Manila Cathedral Choir during the 60’s. The name of the choir was changed into the “Las Piñas Boys Choir”. And when they participated in the Third National Children’s Choir Competition in 1975, the choir ended first. History has proven that the choir has become the place to provide the musicians the Bamboo Organ needs to safeguard its future. Several of the alumni have taken up a career in music, among them the present conductor of the choir, Armando Salarza, and the organ builder Cealwyn Tagle.

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