Keith and Kristyn Getty’s Joy—An Irish Christmas tour played to a packed house in Orlando, Fla., Dec. 15. The couple—modern hymn writers and recording artists who originally hail from Ireland—are visiting 18 cities with their holiday tour, presented in partnership with Compassion International and Redeemer Seminary in Texas.

Launched in Louisville, Ky., the concert of carols, modern hymns and Irish reels and jigs performed by the couple and an ensemble of top Irish and American folk musicians is set to culminate for the second consecutive year at Nashville’s Schermerhorn Symphony Center on Dec. 23. The ensemble features Fionán de Barra of Broadway’s Riverdance; Jeff Taylor (Vince Gill, The Chieftains); and Uilleann piper Patrick D’Arcy, among other acclaimed artists.

In each city on the tour, many which have sold out, a combined choir from various local churches joins in the performance. A children’s choir also sang at the Orlando event. Post-concert music sessions feature band members with a special encore performance and Irish dancing in the lobby of each venue.

The Gettys’ 2011 holiday recording, Joy—An Irish Christmas (Getty Music/EMI CMG Distribution), was produced by GRAMMY winner Phil Naish (Steven Curtis Chapman, Point of Grace), with orchestral arrangements by composer J.A.C. Redford (Avatar, The Help). The project features the Irish Film Orchestra and Anuna, Ireland’s National Choir, and showcases a range of international influences, including Eastern European, Basque and American bluegrass.

The couple’s latest project, Hymns for the Christian Life (Getty Music/EMI CMG), released in October and debuted at No. 5 on Nielsen Christian SoundScan’s Adult Contemporary chart. Produced by Charlie Peacock (The Civil Wars, Switchfoot) and Ed Cash (Chris Tomlin, Kari Jobe), the album features guest appearances from bluegrass artist Ricky Skaggs and Clannad’s Moya Brennan, as well as a special 10th-anniversary recording with 27-time GRAMMY winner Alison Krauss of “In Christ Alone” (written by Keith Getty and Stuart Townend).

The Gettys have also shared their music at Franklin Graham crusades, the GMA Dove Awards, The Third Lausanne Conference on World Evangelization and in feature performances at the Grand Ole Opry and London’s Royal Albert Hall. Planning for the third annual Christmas tour is underway with major venue announcements coming in 2013.

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