Lianna Klassen is a Canadian

Christian A Christian () is a person who follows or adheres to Christianity, a Monotheism, monotheistic Abrahamic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus in Christianity, Jesus Christ. Christians form the largest religious community in the wo ...

Celtic Celtic, Celtics or Keltic may refer to: Language and ethnicity *pertaining to Celts, a collection of Indo-European peoples in Europe and Anatolia **Celts (modern) *Celtic languages **Proto-Celtic language *Celtic music *Celtic nations Sports Foot ...

and Christian New Age-influenced musician, songwriter, speaker and

worship leader Contemporary worship is a form of Christian worship that emerged within Western evangelical Protestantism in the 20th century. It was originally confined to the charismatic movement, but is now found in a wide range of churches, including many ...

. A

Juno Award The Juno Awards (stylized as JUNOS), or simply known as the Junos, are awards presented by Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences, the Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences to recognize outstanding achievements in Canada's mu ...

nominee and

GMA Canada The Gospel Music Association of Canada or GMA Canada (formerly known as the CGMA) is a not for profit association, founded in 1974, whose purpose is to promote Christian music in Canada. History GMA Canada is created in 1974 in Ontario with ...

Covenant Award The Covenant Awards are awarded to the Canadian gospel music industry by GMA Canada, the Gospel Music Association of Canada. The association is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to promote the growth and ministry of Christian music in Ca ...

winner, Klassen has released seven albums to date. Her compositions are

chants A chant (from French ', from Latin ', "to sing") is the iterative speaking or singing of words or sounds, often primarily on one or two main pitches called reciting tones. Chants may range from a simple melody involving a limited set of not ...

hymns A hymn is a type of song, and partially synonymous with devotional song, specifically written for the purpose of adoration or prayer, and typically addressed to a deity or deities, or to a prominent figure or personification. The word ''hymn'' ...

and meditations on the themes of

praise Praise as a form of social interaction expresses recognition, reassurance or admiration. Praise is expressed verbally as well as by body language (facial expression and gestures). Verbal praise consists of a positive evaluations of another's ...

, prayer and

worship Worship is an act of religious devotion usually directed towards a deity or God. For many, worship is not about an emotion, it is more about a recognition of a God. An act of worship may be performed individually, in an informal or formal group, ...

. Stylistically they have also included Christmas

carols A carol is a festive song, generally religious but not necessarily connected with Christian church worship, and sometimes accompanied by a dance. A caroller (or caroler) is someone who sings carols, and is said to be carolling (or caroling). ...

, contemporary praise, country music and Christian folk. Notable songs written by Lianna include: "Song for Canada", "I will Not Be Silent" and "Song of Declaration." Klassen was born on August 25, 1961, in

Vancouver, British Columbia Vancouver is a major city in Western Canada, located in the Lower Mainland region of British Columbia. As the List of cities in British Columbia, most populous city in the province, the 2021 Canadian census recorded 662,248 people in the cit ...

and has been based out of

Abbotsford, British Columbia Abbotsford is a city in British Columbia next to the Canada–United States border, Greater Vancouver, and the Fraser River. With a census population of 153,569 people (2021), it is the most populous municipality in the province outside metropol ...

, Calgary,

Alberta Alberta is a Provinces and territories of Canada, province in Canada. It is a part of Western Canada and is one of the three Canadian Prairies, prairie provinces. Alberta is bordered by British Columbia to its west, Saskatchewan to its east, t ...

, and most recently,

Montreal Montreal is the List of towns in Quebec, largest city in the Provinces and territories of Canada, province of Quebec, the List of the largest municipalities in Canada by population, second-largest in Canada, and the List of North American cit ...

, Quebec. Lianna was a worship leader at Northview Community Church in Abbotsford for several years. She wrote her first

gospel Gospel originally meant the Christianity, Christian message ("the gospel"), but in the second century Anno domino, AD the term (, from which the English word originated as a calque) came to be used also for the books in which the message w ...

song at the age of 14 and has been performing since the age of eight. Klassen is married and has three children. Her son

Jordan Klassen Jordan Klassen is a singer-songwriter and producer from Vancouver, British Columbia. Life and career Jordan Klassen was born in Abbotsford, British Columbia, the son of Juno Award nominated artist Lianna Klassen. After moving to Calgary in hi ...

is a singer-songwriter.

Discography

Songs on compilations

* ''Window of Hope'', "Song of Declaration", "Doors and Windows", "Listen to the Sound" & "Salvation" (Gospel Music Foundation, 2002) * '' Sea to Sea: I See The Cross'', "You Are God And You Are Wonderful" (CMC, 2005) * ''Sea to Sea: The Voice of Creation'', "Celtic Blessings: You Are The Peace" (CMC, 2007) * '' Sea to Sea: Christmas'', "Huron Carol" (Lakeside, 2009)

Notable appearances

* duet with

Graham Ord Graham Ord (born 22 March 1961) is an English musician and songwriter. He has garnered respect internationally as a fine musician and engaging communicator. Ord performed with the Wesley Brothers in the UK before embarking on his solo career. ...

on: "Like Joshua of old", on his album: ''Regarding the Maker'' (Knewsense Records, 2005)

Awards and recognition

;

Covenant Awards The Covenant Awards are awarded to the Canadian gospel music industry by GMA Canada, the Gospel Music Association of Canada. The association is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to promote the growth and ministry of Christian music in Ca ...

* 2001 Contemporary Gospel Album of the Year: ''Love In the Ruins, Hope In the Wasteland'' * 2001 Inspirational Song of the Year: "Song for Canada" * 2005 nominee, Inspirational Album of the Year: ''Out of Borderland'' * 2007 nominee, Folk/Roots Song of the Year: "Celtic Blessing" * 2007 nominee, Inspirational Song of the Year: "I Am" * 2007 nominee, Instrumental Song of the Year: "Repentance Lament" * 2007 nominee, Folk/Roots Album of the Year: ''The Guest'' * 2007 nominee, Album of the Year: ''The Guest'' * 2011 Inspirational Album of the Year: ''Songs For The Journey – The Story Goes On...'' ;

Juno Awards The Juno Awards (stylized as JUNOS), or simply known as the Junos, are awards presented by the Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences to recognize outstanding achievements in Canada's music industry. The Grammy Awards are the United S ...

* 1999 nominee, Best Gospel Album: ''Listen to the Sound'' ;Shai Awards (formerly The Vibe Awards) * 2002 nominee, Female Vocalist of the Year * 2002 nominee, Contemporary/Pop Album Of The Year: ''Love In the Ruins, Hope In the Wasteland'' * 2002 nominee, Worship Album of the Year: ''Love In the Ruins, Hope In the Wasteland'' * 2002 nominee, Song of the Year: "Song for Canada" * 2003 nominee, Female Vocalist of the Year * 2003 nominee, Inspirational Album Of The Year: ''Once Upon A Time Forever After'' * 2004 Seasonal Album Of The Year: ''Once Upon a Time Forever After'' * 2004 nominee, Female Soloist of the Year * 2004 nominee, Song of the Year: "The Women's Song" * 2005 nominee, Female Vocalist of the Year * 2005 nominee, Inspirational Album of the Year: ''Out of Borderland''

References

External links

*
Lianna Klassen's Official German home page
Retrieved 2008-11-01.
Lianna Klassen's MySpace
Retrieved 2008-10-18. {{DEFAULTSORT:Klassen, Lianna Living people 1961 births Singers from Vancouver Canadian Christians Canadian women singers Canadian women singer-songwriters Canadian singer-songwriters Canadian performers of Christian music Canadian Mennonites Canadian women folk musicians 21st-century Canadian folk musicians 20th-century Canadian folk musicians