BIOGRAPHY

Last updated July 13th, 2026

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Personal Bios – Short & Long

1. a) “Salmon Arm, 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 Secwépemc people.”

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1. b) "Ben MacRae, a fixture on the BC traditional jazz scene, is a reedsman who stands in the line of great hot jazz musicians. Enthusiastic, full of energy, and often poignant, Ben brings a delightful mixture of trad jazz, crowd work, and musical expertise to the forefront with his bands.  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 Secwépemc people.” "

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2. “Salmon Arm 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 in ministry at First Community, Salmon Arm as their student minister. 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 Secwépemc people.”

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Personal Bio – Long

BC based musician and pastor Benjamin MacRae (he/him/his) is an accomplished clarinet, saxophone, flute, and tuba player that is currently settled in Salmon Arm. 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 Secwépemc people.  ​​

Ben is the creator of the Music is my Religion, My Religion is music Substack, a space where he talks about the intersection of progressive, compassionate, and inclusive Christianity with the ethics, art, and spirituality of the jazz tradition.  Drawing upon his experiences as a United Church of Canada minister and jazz musician (including the release of his upcoming album, "I Wonder What it's Like to Be...and Other Songs," he recorded his album live at St. Andrew's-Wesley United Church March 14th, 2026.  ​

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.

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 (a congregation in the Pacific Mountain Regional Council of The United Church of Canada) serving 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." ​

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First Community, Salmon Arm –
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.

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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.  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 Secwépemc people.”