Sanctuary Concert Series

Mark your calendars as we transform our historic sanctuary into a haven of harmonious melodies featuring Dean Thiessen Jazz Trio.
About this Event

In the heart of Vancouver, where tradition and innovation converge, Canadian Memorial United Church has long been a hub of cultural and artistic expression. As the seasons change and we approach the vibrant month of October, the church is all set to enchant you with an extraordinary evening of music. Welcome to the Sanctuary Concert Series!
AN EVENING TO REMEMBERMark your calendars for October 8, 2026, at 7 PM, as we transform our historic sanctuary into a haven of harmonious melodies featuring Dean Thiessen Jazz Trio.
TRIO
To elevate this musical journey to new heights, we've brought together a selection of outstanding local artists. Dean Thiessen is joined by his great friends and collaborators Bella Fedrigo on upright bass and Tyler Murray on drums. This trio pulls from the long and rich history of the jazz piano trio while drawing stylistic inspiration specifically from Red Garland, Nat 'King' Cole, Oscar Peterson, and Teddy Wilson. Dean's arrangements bring new and exciting interpretations of the standard repertoire of the jazz era given to us by the great Black American musicians who created the genre. Full of spontaneous improvisations over sultry ballads and upbeat swing tunes, this trio is a unified musical force!

ABOUT DEAN

Dean is a Vancouver-based pianist, composer, and educator originally from Sylvan Lake, Alberta. His Bachelor’s Degree in Jazz Composition was completed after a unique educational trajectory that included Red Deer College, Berklee College of Music, and Capilano University. Currently, Dean enjoys a busy career gigging and collaborating within the local Vancouver jazz and improvised music scenes, wedding events, musical theater productions, choral groups, and dance groups as well as teaching at the Sarah McLachlan School Of Music. Besides playing piano, Dean is an accomplished composer and arranger. His arrangements for horn and string ensembles can be heard on a number of his peers’ albums and performances including recent performances by the Hard Rubber Orchestra and the Sister Jazz Orchestra. His small ensemble and 15-piece jazz orchestra under the shared name of ‘STRANGER FRIENDS’ are his creative outlets that explore his unique compositional and improvisational styles. Both these ensembles have been featured in the Vancouver International Jazz Festival in recent years. His newest releases ‘Stranger Friends Orchestra Live at the Fox Cabaret’ and ‘Thank You, Friend’ feature these two projects as Dean continues to become an established and respected pianist, composer, and bandleader. www.deanthiessen.com
MORE THAN A CONCERT
The Sanctuary Concert Series is more than just an evening of music; it's an invitation, an embrace, and an opportunity to experience the warmth of our welcoming community. The concert is open to all, and here's the best part – it's free! We believe in the power of music to bring people together, and this event is our way of extending that unity to you.
While the concert is free, we encourage those who can to make a suggested donation of $25. Your support allows us to continue hosting events like these and sharing the joy of music with the wider community.