Lauren Biggs - Ubi Caritas et Amor (Deus ibi Est) (2025) | World premiere

Azusa Pacific University Symphony Orchestra Christopher Russell, conductor Recorded in APU's Upper Turner Campus Center October 26, 2025 Lauren Biggs (b. 2002) is a California-based composer, producer, and singer/songwriter. She grew up in Anchorage, Alaska listening to The Beatles, CCM, Russian folk, jazz, R&B, film music, and video game soundtracks. She performed as a trombonist in her school’s jazz and concert bands, led worship at church, and produced and released music under the pseudonym Laureli Amadeus. She has a deep love for composition, her style having been described by friends as ethereal, innovative, and historically detailed. Some of her favorite composers are Georgy Sviridov, Eriks Esenvalds, and Ravel. Her playlists also include Hozier, Sufjan Stevens, Amber Run, and The Oh Hellos. While pursuing her BM in Composition at Azusa Pacific University (APU), Lauren has developed an unyielding passion for vocal-driven music. Her choral works have been performed by Cal State Fullerton University Singers (dir. Rob Istad) at the 2024 Western Region ACDA conference, APU Bel Canto Women's Choir (dir. Brandon DiNoto), the Kosovo Philharmonic Choir (dir. Hajrullah Syla), Quintessence (dir. Matthew Greer), and Los Angeles based choir, voicesLA (dir. John Sutton). Lauren’s goal as a composer is to tell meaningful stories, spread joy through collaborative music-making, and to create and share her art as an act of reverence to a higher power. Program note by the composer: “Ubi Caritas et Amor (Deus ibi Est.)” was originally commissioned by the 2023/24 Bel Canto Women’s Choir, directed by Prof. Brandon DiNoto. This orchestral arrangement was created for the 2025 APU Symphony Orchestra under the direction of Christopher Russell and premiered at Azusa Pacific University on October 26, 2025. The title, "Ubi Caritas et Amor (Deus ibi Est)" is from an ancient chant which means: “Where charity and love are, God is there.” The original chant is very much focused on the beauty of God and God’s creation, but I wanted to focus on the mystery of God. You’ll hear some dissonant textures throughout the orchestra and big, grandiose chords, as well as hand chimes at the end, which are meant to add to a more ancient sound to the orchestration. I’m very grateful to Professor Brandon DiNoto, who first commissioned the piece for choir, and to Professor Russell and the APU Symphony Orchestra for bringing this new version to life.