Our Instructor for 2026: Mitchell Eithun

Mitchell Eithun is a handbell musician, composer and director, with over seventy published compositions. He is passionate about developing innovative handbell rehearsal techniques and sharing historical and theological perspectives on church music. As the founding director of Bell Durham, a community handbell ensemble in Durham, N.C., Mitchell develops creative handbell concerts for new audiences. He holds a Master of Divinity from Duke Divinity School (Durham, N.C.), an M.S. in Computational Mathematics from Michigan State University (East Lansing, Mich.), and a B.A. in Mathematics and Computer Science, with a minor in Music, from Ripon College (Ripon, Wis.). Mitchell’s previous roles include serving as a carillonneur and intern at Duke University Chapel and as handbell director at First Presbyterian Church of Holt, Mich. He is an associate member of the Guild of Carillonneurs in North America and a member of Handbell Musicians of America. Outside of music, Mitchell enjoys travelling to new destinations.