Colin Eatock was born in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, and currently lives in Toronto. He is a regular contributor to two newspapers: Toronto’s Globe and Mail and the Houston Chronicle. As well, he's written for the New York Times, and magazines in Canada, the USA and the UK. For six years he served as editor of publications for the Canadian Opera Company.

In 1984 Eatock became the first graduate of the MA in music criticism program at McMaster University (in Hamilton, Ontario). At McMaster, his instructors included Harold C. Schonberg of the New York Times, and Arthur Jacobs of the Guardian.

More recently, in 2007, Eatock completed a PhD in musicology at the University of Toronto. A book based on Eatock’s dissertation, entitled Mendelssohn and Victorian England, was published by Ashgate Press in 2009. At the University of Toronto he has also lectured in music history.

In addition to writing about music, Eatock also composes, and is an associate of the Canadian Music Centre. Included in his catalogue are  chamber works, songs, choral music and works for orchestra. His music has been performed in Canada, the USA and the UK; and recorded on the Furiant, Toreador and Echiquier labels.