Timothy Max: Emotions and Inspiration in "Ubi Caritas"
- WOMCO
- Apr 30
- 2 min read
Timothy Max Johnson was a Master Prize Winner in the Choir/Ensemble Music Category at the 2025 Season 2 Beethoven International Music Competition UK
Biography
Timothy Max is a composer of sacred and modern music, writing for choir, orchestra, organ, and piano. His work includes numerous arrangements of Latter-day Saint (Mormon) hymns and original compositions that have reached audiences around the world.
In the early 2000s, Timothy performed and recorded extensively with Millennium Choir, a semi-professional ensemble led by Hollywood composer Lex de Azevedo. During his undergraduate studies, he participated in numerous domestic and international tours, which inspired lasting friendships and cultural exchange. One of these connections led him to spend a year teaching English to over 200 college students in the rural city of Huaibei, Anhui, China.
He earned his Bachelor of Arts in Music from Brigham Young University–Hawaii, where he studied composition with Dr. Daniel Bradshaw. At BYU–Hawaii, Timothy regularly arranged and performed music for concerts and devotionals, and was actively involved in multiple ensembles. Choirs at the university have premiered many of his works both locally and abroad.
Several of his sacred compositions have received church-wide recognition, including awards and international conferences and festivals.
Timothy currently lives in Houston, Texas, where he now composes music full time. He has previously held roles in the Music Department at Lone Star College–Kingwood, served as Executive Assistant to the Lake Houston Musical Arts Society, and worked as Executive Director for the Houston Masterworks Chorus.
Could you share the inspiration behind your award-winning music composition "Ubi Caritas" and the message you hope to convey through it?
I composed the earliest version of Ubi Caritas in 2007, after hearing the Latin text. I was immediately drawn to its timeless message—encouraging sincere love, empathy, and charity.
What was your creative process like while composing "Ubi Caritas"? How did you approach the structure and dynamics of the piece?
In writing the piece, I focused on crafting clear melodic lines with smooth contours and well-balanced counterpoint. The music blends both homophonic and polyphonic sections, alternating between lush choral textures and intimate solo lines. My goal was to guide listeners through a range of emotions: happiness, sadness, excitement, joy, and heartfelt sincerity.
How do you feel about the response to your composition, and are there any particular emotions or reactions you'd like listeners to experience when they hear it performed?
Ubi Caritas was first performed by the Brigham Young University–Hawaii Concert Choir during an international tourto China and Mongolia. The reception was overwhelmingly positive—audiences remarked on the contrast between the soft, contemplative sections and the more powerful, expressive passages. The choir went on to adopt the piece as a sort of signature work, performing it on several subsequent international tours.
