Dr. Sam Eatherton

Dr. Sam Eatherton is assistant professor of Practical Theology, kantor and director of music arts, and the Kreft Chair for Music Arts at Concordia Seminary, St. Louis. He joined the faculty in 2024.

Previously, Eatherton served as kantor at Trinity Lutheran Church and School in Sheboygan, Wis. (2020-24), leading worship from the organ, directing the church choirs and teaching music in the school. He served as the minister of music and teacher at Zion Lutheran Church and School in Dallas, Texas (2000-20), and he served for four years as a teacher and the director of music at Trinity Lutheran Church and School in St. Joseph, Mich. (1996-2000).

Eatherton received a Doctor of Musical Arts (DMA) in church music from Baylor University (2019) in Waco, Texas. He also holds a Master of Church Music from Concordia University Chicago, River Forest, Ill. (2003), in which his thesis in composition was titled “Ancient Hymns of the Church.” He holds a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in education with a concentration in music from Concordia University, Nebraska, Seward (1996). Continuing his education with private study in organ literature and improvisation, he studied with Dr. Gerre Hancock at the University of Texas, Austin (2010-12), and with Dr. Larry Palmer at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas (2001).

Eatherton served as a co-editor of The Gift of Music: Essays on Church Music and Hymnology, a Festschrift in Honor of David W. Music (MorningStar Music Publishers, 2021) and The Chorale Preludes of Georg Phillip Telemann (Concordia Publishing House, 2021).

He has written scholarly articles on a variety of church music topics in “Lutheran Service Book: Hymnal Companion,” “Concordia Historical Institute Quarterly” and “The Hymn: A Journal of Congregational Song, Issues in Christian Education.”

An accomplished musician, Eatherton also is a composer in collections published by Concordia Publishing House. He has conducted and performed organ recitals, hymn festivals and choral concerts. He also has presented for workshops and conferences at Uppsala University in Sweden; Baylor University; Concordia University Chicago, River Forest, Ill.; Concordia University, Nebraska, Seward; and Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne, Ind.

Eatherton is a member of the Association of Lutheran Church Musicians and the American Guild of Organists.

Eatherton and his wife, Lois, have five children: Hannah, Rebekah, Ruth, David and Sarah.