John Eggert is Emeritus Professor of Music at Concordia University, Saint Paul where he taught organ, music theory, and composition. He holds advanced degrees from the University of Iowa (DMA in Organ Performance and Pedagogy, 1975-78) and Northwestern University (MMus in Organ Performance, 1969-72). He earned his undergraduate degree at Concordia University
Nebraska (B.S. in Music and Education,1964-68). His mentors include Delbert Disselhorst, Robert Lodine, Richard Enright and Charles Ore (organ), Gerhard Krapf (organ and improvisation), and Theodore Beck (theory and composition).
Dr. Eggert has presented recitals, workshops, and lectures for churches, colleges, and chapters of the American Guild of organists. In 1989 he received a faculty fellowship from the Blandin Foundation to gather, perform, and record a program of new organ music by Minnesota composers, a program that was aired on Minnesota Public Radio in 1993 and again in 2000.
Dr. Eggert has composed six volumes of Six Hymn Preludes (CPH) and has composed eight sets of variations on hymn tunes — WONDROUS LOVE, NETTLETON, SHADES MOUNTAIN, SLANE, FOUNDATION, VENI CREATOR SPIRITUS, VOM HIMMEL HOCH (all CPH) and CHRIST CHURCH (manuscript). Collections meant specifically for service playing are Creative Hymn Accompaniments, Twenty-Six Hymn Introductions, and Twenty-Four Hymn Introductions for Reformation.
Commissioned pieces for organ, brass quartet, and choir include “Sing with All the Saints in Glory,” published by CPH and “Clap Your Hands” (Psalm 47), published by GIA. “The Morning Trumpet,” for organ, brass quartet and timpani, was commissioned by Illinois College in Jacksonville, IL and published by Brassworks4.
Dr. Eggert’s choral music has been published by CPH, Augsburg Fortress, GIA, MorningStar and Northwesten Publishing House and includes hymn anthems, hymn concertatos, psalm settings, and settings of African American spirituals for treble voices.
Dr. Eggert served two parishes as teacher, organist and choir director: St. Paul Lutheran Church, Melrose Park, IL (1968-70) and Timothy Lutheran Church, Chicago, IL (1970-75). From 1979 through 1990 he was organist and choir director at Jehovah Lutheran Church, St. Paul. From 1978 through 2011 Dr. Eggert was a member of the music faculty at Concordia University, St. Paul, teaching organ, service playing, improvisation, music theory, and composition. As university organist he played faculty recitals, served as organist for chapel services and participated in special events such as Christmas programs. He directed the chapel choir from 1985 through 1989.
Administrative posts included Music Department Chair and Coordinator of the Director of Parish Music Program. Under his leadership the Music Department offered worship conferences for pastors and church musicians and workshops for organists and choir directors.
A personal note: My best critic, perceptive and candid, is my wife of 49 years, Linda. We met at Concordia College, Seward and both sang in Carlos Messerli’s chapel choir. Linda was a teacher in the St. Paul Public School system until her retirement in 2008.