BIOGRAPHY

Last updated August 4th, 2025

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Personal Bios – Short & Long

1. “Vancouver BC based musician and pastor Benjamin MacRae (he/him/his) specializes in modern music and the spoken word, blending influences from across diverse traditions of music and Christian spirituality through a progressive, inclusive, compassionate and intersectional feminist approach. A believer in truth and reconciliation and the movement towards decolonization, Ben lives, works, worships, and plays on the current, unceded, ancestral, and sacred territories of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and Sel̓íl̓witulh (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations.”

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2. “Vancouver BC based musician and pastor Benjamin MacRae (he/him/his) specializes in modern music and the spoken word, blending influences from across diverse traditions of music and Christian spirituality through a progressive, inclusive, compassionate, and intersectional feminist approach. Ben recently completed his theological studies by earning a Master of Divinity degree at Vancouver School of Theology (2025), located at the University of British Columbia. Ben also holds a Bachelor of Jazz Studies in Performance and Composition from Capilano University (2021), and a diploma in Orchestral Clarinet Performance from Kwantlen Polytechnic University (2017). Ben serves at St. Andrew’s-Wesley United Church as their Minister with Jazz Ministries, Youth & Young Adults. Originally from the Fraser Valley, Ben enjoys cooking, bicycling, and playing cribbage with anyone who is remotely interested or willing to play with him.  Married to local musician and music educator Skye Eriksen (a frequent collaborator), Ben enjoys spending quality time with his family.  A believer in truth and reconciliation and the movement towards decolonization, Ben acknowledges that he lives, works, worships, and plays on the current, unceded, ancestral, and sacred territories of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and Sel̓íl̓witulh (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations.”

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Personal Bio – Long

“Vancouver BC based musician and pastor Benjamin MacRae (he/him/his) is an accomplished clarinet, saxophone, flute, and tuba player that is currently settled in Vancouver, BC. Originally from the Fraser Valley, Ben enjoys cooking, bicycling, and playing cribbage with anyone who is remotely interested or willing to play with him. Married to local musician and music educator Skye Eriksen (a frequent collaborator), Ben enjoys spending quality time with his family. A believer in Truth and Reconciliation and the movement towards decolonization, Ben acknowledges that he lives, works, worships, and plays on the current, unceded, ancestral, and sacred territories of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and Sel̓íl̓witulh (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations.

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While Ben’s most current musical endeavours are focused around his traditional jazz ensemble, Grand Slam that specializes in the jazz, blues, and Gospel idioms of the early 20th century, he frequently performs his own original material, freelances as a sessional musician for various bands, and has extensive experience working within the European classical, Jewish klezmer, Christian devotional, contemporary/freely improvised, and orchestral jazz musical traditions. From weddings to funerals, dances to wakes, large shows to cozy in-home concerts, the sacred to the secular, working with people of all ranges, abilities, backgrounds and identities, Ben is widely experienced in providing music for, and with, the people.
Links - Grand Slam: https://www.grandslamjazzband.com/

Ben received a Diploma in Orchestral Performance on the clarinet from Kwantlen Polytechnic University (2017). Later, at Capilano University Ben obtained a Bachelor of Music in Jazz Studies – Performance and Composition (2021). Most recently, Ben earned a Master of Divinity in United Church Studies (2025) from Vancouver School of Theology located at the University of British Columbia, where he also earned Certificate in Leadership Excellence (2023) from the Sauder School of Business.
 

During his time in seminary, Ben was also selected to become a Fellow at FASPE: Fellowships for the Society of Professional Ethics (2023), an organization that continues to influence his own personal and professional ethics. In addition to his musical and theological studies, Ben is a former member (in good standing) of the Vancouver Musician's Association/American Federation of Musicians Chapter 145.

Links - https://www.faspe-ethics.org/fellows-by-year/

Further to his work as musician, Ben is a candidate for ordination in The United Church of Canada, one of the most progressive and social-justice oriented Christian denominations in the world. Ben is currently serving at St. Andrew’s-Wesley United Church as the student Minister with Jazz Ministries, Youth & Young Adults. Ben’s ministerial passion is in the intersection of music, Christian spiritual traditions, ecumenical and interfaith dialogue, social activism, and trauma-informed evangelism and outreach amongst those in the first third of life. Ben’s personal faith is one of constant reformation: he is a Christian who aspires to be progressive, inclusive, compassionate, a practicing intersectional feminist, advocating for the full inclusion of all peoples into the life, mission, and witness of both church and society alike." 

Links - StAW: https://standrewswesley.com/people/benjamin macrae/

Links - United Church of Canada: https://united-church.ca/

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St. Andrew’s-Wesley United Church Bio –
Minister with Jazz Ministries, Youth and Young Adults

“Pastor Ben (he/him/his) is a well-respected jazz musician and United Church of Canada candidate for ordination who radiates calmness, warmth, and creativity, currently serving as our Minister with Jazz Ministries, Youth & Young Adults.

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Pastor Ben specializes in modern music and the spoken word, blending influences from across the diverse traditions of music and Christian spirituality. Ben recently completed his theological studies by earning a Master of Divinity degree at Vancouver School of Theology, located at the University of British Columbia. Ben also holds a Bachelor of Jazz Studies in Performance and Composition from Capilano University, and a diploma in Orchestral Clarinet Performance from Kwantlen Polytechnic University. Ben is originally from the Fraser Valley, and enjoys cooking, spending time outdoors, and playing cribbage with anyone who is remotely interested or willing to play with him. Ben’s ministerial passion is in the intersection of music, Christian spiritual traditions, ecumenical and interfaith dialogue, social activism, and trauma-informed evangelism and outreach amongst those in the first third of life."