Dr. Nathan Burggraff considers himself equally a pianist, teacher, worship pastor, and music composer. His passion for the piano began at the age of eight and, as a teenager, he performed offertories and specials in his church as well as accompanied for various school choirs. He pursued music in his undergraduate studies at Clearwater Christian College, with concentrations in both piano and composition. While in graduate school, Nathan served as an itinerant sacred concert pianist, traveling to over one hundred churches throughout the United States and Canada. Though Nathan’s musical career began as a solo piano performer, it was during his graduate studies that he realized his desire to teach music theory in order to help other musicians enhance their craft. 

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Nathan completed his graduate studies at the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, NY, having earned masters degrees in Piano Accompanying (2007) and Music Theory Pedagogy (2010) as well as a Ph.D. in Music Theory (2015). His dissertation research focused on the interaction of postmodern themes in music and theology. His current research is focused on musical changes to congregational songs in American evangelical churches, and the impact these changes have had on congregational participation in singing. He has presented at several national and global conferences including the Society for Music Theory, Society for Christian Scholarship in Music, Shepherds 360 Conference, and the Christian Congregational Music Conference. 

 

Currently, Nathan serves as Associate Professor of Music Theory and the Director of the Piano Department in the School of Church Music and Worship at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, TX. He has served in pastoral music ministry positions at multiple churches both in Texas and New York. In addition, he has participated in several musical mission trips to Peru and South Africa and, in 2009, organized and led a missions team to South Africa to present concerts in cities along the southern coast.

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