Keith Getty

Julian Keith Getty is a Northern Irish composer, hymn writer, arranger, conductor, and church-music leader born in Lisburn in 1974. He grew up in a family of Presbyterian church musicians and began studying classical guitar and flute while young. He earned a music degree from Durham University in 1995 and pursued further conducting and orchestral training, experiences that helped shape his later work as an arranger and composer.

Getty’s primary role in “In Christ Alone” was melodic. After meeting Stuart Townend at a worship event in 2000, he sent Townend a recording containing several melody ideas. Townend was immediately drawn to the first tune and began writing a text around the life, death, and resurrection of Christ. Their accounts also show genuine collaboration: Getty suggested restructuring the opening words so that the song would begin immediately with its central Christological emphasis.

Getty later developed a long partnership with his wife, Kristyn, and with Townend, co-writing works such as “The Power of the Cross” and “See, What a Morning.” He co-founded Getty Music and the Sing! conference and was appointed OBE in 2017 for services to music and modern hymn writing.