William David Young

William David Young is an American composer, arranger, and editor whose work helped bridge traditional hymnody and modern praise music during the 1980s and 1990s. He wrote original Scripture-based choruses such as “Now Unto the King Eternal” (1986) and composed new tunes for biblical texts, while his arrangements of classic hymns appeared in many evangelical collections. As an arranger for The Celebration Hymnal (Word / Integrity, 1997), Young provided new choral endings, descants, and medleys that combined nineteenth-century hymns with contemporary choruses — notably his arrangement of Crown Him with Many Crowns (DIADEMATA). His other church works include anthems and choral adaptations of classical themes published by Word Music, Alfred, and Jubilate Music Group. Through these efforts he helped churches sing old truths in fresh musical settings, a legacy that continues through choirs and congregations still using his arrangements today.

J. S. McDuff (from Word Music and Integrity Music publication records, Jubilate Music Group product notes, and church program archives, retrieved 10/10/2025)