I want you to know we just finalized the artist lineup for Songwriters 2010 at Mount Hermon.

We got a call last week from one of our musicians saying that Matt Redman wanted to come and be a part of the event!

We couldn’t say no, we’re already full, so he is coming! This conference will sell out so get yourself and anyone else you know registered. Check out the lineup below.

Blessings, Dave Burns

Join Matt Redman, Tommy Walker, Leeland, Brandon Heath, Charlie Peacock, Brenton Brown, Vicky Beeching, Mia Fieldes of Hillsong United, Ken Reynolds, and many other world-renowned songwriters and instructors for this completely unique, intimate retreat among the majestic California redwoods in the heart of the Santa Cruz mountains.  Experience fellowship, instruction, and times of deep refreshing worship with artists and songwriters who are shaping the contour of Christian music.  Plus, have your songs evaluated by professionals and share your work with fellow attendees. In addition to our featured artists we will also have music and workshops taught by nationally recognized songwriters Rick Cua, and Jason Ingram.

Born and raised in Newfoundland, Canada, Matt grew up in a strong culture comprised of two elements: music and tradition. He listened to American Top 40 every Saturday. His dad would cook listening to Willie Nelson or Frank Sinatra. His cousins next door listened to everything from Broadway to British Rock, like the Beatles and The Who. Early on, Matt’s parents realized his talent for music and started him in piano lessons. He quickly absorbed as many musical styles as possible, playing in concert and jazz ensembles, singing in choir, and even playing in a high school garage rock band.

During college in Newfoundland, Matt’s parents divorced. His mother was an American citizen and decided to move back to the U.S. to be closer to her family in Arizona. After careful consideration, Matt decided to move with his mom, sensing he needed a new start and hoping to become a film-scorer. God had other plans.

Matt had been raised believing in God, but music was his religion. He had a Bible in his room and would read Genesis and Revelation because he was fascinated with “how we got here and how we’re going out”, but that was all. He knew God was real but didn’t understand how much he was loved by Him.

While attending his cousins church in Arizona, Matt was approached by the youth pastor and the music director to help out. Within two months he was led to accept Christ and to respond in serving Him in the new church community. During this time Matt restarted work on his music degree and received a scholarship from the Jazz Department at Arizona State University, where he studied Jazz Piano.

Matt was in his last year of college, unsure of what to do next, when he heard the songs of Delirious? and songwriters like Paul Baloche and Darrell Evans, as well as the Passion movement. It blew him away. It was in those simple expressions he realized his desire to do the same.

Ten years and many songs later, Maher is now traveling full time as a “Musical Missionary,” and is still involved in his local church, as well as helping out with the young adult ministry on the campus of Arizona State University. He is convinced you have to stay rooted in community if you want to lead and write for the Church as that’s where songs come from — your relationship with Christ, your immediate family, and the family of believers.

Haven’t gotten around to registering for Songwriters but planning on coming?  You’ll be happy to know the discount opportunity has been extended another 15 days to August 1st.  Don’t miss it this time.  Get on Mount Hermon’s website and register on-line today.  $50 off for 1st timers and $100 off for alumni of our first ever conference last year.

If you’ve been thinking about coming to Mount Hermon’s 2nd Annual Songwriters Conference, August  31-September 3, don’t wait too long and miss the $50 discount for 1st timers and $100 discount for Alumni of 2008 Songwriters.   You’ll never be sorry you were part of this wonderful conference.

Last years registrants had the privilege of networking with business and industry professionals, listening to well-known artists, learning the craft of songwriting, and getting an inside look at the industry.  On top of that, there was the opportunity for hands-on  sharing of their own ideas and songs, and learning to co-write with others, topped with the experience of incredible worship and teaching in the general sessions with the likes of Don Moen and Paul Baloche, Charlie Peacock, Sara Groves, Derek Webb, Joy Williams and others.  As with any conference at Mount Hermon, there was fantastic food, lots of laughter and fellowship in an incredibly beautiful setting.

Come join us in adding to what you already know, and increasing your understanding of the craft of songwriting.  Well worth the time and financial output if you have a desire to minister through writing your own music and lyrics.   We’re waiting for you!

SO, just a heads up . . . don’t miss the opportunity to take advantage of the discount.  Every little bit helps these days.

This years Songwriters Conference is coming up quickly, and we’re excited to welcome Bethany Dillon (born Bethany Adelsberger) to the faculty as well as the stage. She brings a wealth of experience in songwriting and performance and will be sharing that with us! Are you coming to join us?  We hope so. There’s still room!

Bethany was born in Ohio and started playing guitar at age 10. Her musical career began at age 13 when she recorded an independent album (Vulnerable) that ended up in the hands of EMI executive Brad O’Donnell. Audiences connected with her music almost immediately and the results included several hit singles, multiple Dove nods, critical acclaim, and an exponentially increasing grassroots fan base that propelled her career forward in great leaps.

Her first self-titled debut album released in 2004 and was the highest selling female solo debut album for the year, attracting GMA nominations for both Female Vocalist and New Artist of the Year.  The radio single All I Need reached the number one position in US charts.  Dillon released her second album titled Imagination in August 2005–the CD that prompted CCM Magazine to label her as the “future” of contemporary Christian music.  Since then she has come out with Waking Up, an album released April 3, 2007.   Dillon seems particularly excited about this project as she feels it is the most joyful record she has made, even though it revolves around themes of brokenness and a feeling of being really, really small in the presence of God.

On March 29, 2008, Bethany married Shane Barnard of Shane & Shane in Xenia, Ohio.  Shane & Shane will also be on faculty at this years conference.

Songwriter’s Conference faculty member/singer/songwriter, Joy Williams, was offered a recording contract with Reunion Records (division of Sony/BMG music) at age 17, after declining several offers at age 14 in order to finish high school. Joy built a large following by touring extensively and releasing three records from 2000-2005 (2001 self-titled Joy Williams, 2002′s By Surprise and 2005′s Genesis). During that span of time, Joy achieved over 11 Dove Award nominations, including multiple Female Vocalist of the Year nods and one Song of the Year nod for her song “Hide”, also earning an ASCAP writer award for the same song.

Pressured by mutual friends into meeting Nate Yetton, A&R associate for EMI, Joy found herself strongly attracted to this servant-hearted man. In June of 2004 they were married under the stately redwoods at Henry Cowell State Park, a mile from Mount Hermon, in an intimate outdoor wedding.

In mid 2005, due to several career decisions and philosophical differences with her label and management company, Joy requested a release from her contractual ties, which was granted. For the next while she rested, traveled and began exploring new career opportunities, sensing God had a different direction for her.

In 2006, Joy signed a publishing contract as a top line songwriter with Judy Stakee at Warner/Chappell Music (division of Warner Music Group) where she had great success. She wrote ‘Waiting for Yesterday’ with David Hodges and Steven McMorran which was picked up and recorded by American Idol runner-up David Archuleta; ‘Oh my Lord’ and ‘Only You’ featured on Mandisa‘s debut True Beauty; ‘Awaken’ featured on Natalie Grant’s project of the same name; ‘Wish’ featured on Brian Littrell’s solo debut, Welcome Home (You); and helped Jennette McCurdy, the singer and co-star of Nickelodeon’s hit TV show iCarly, write and compose ‘So Close’, Jennette’s debut single. This is only a smattering of songs she composed during that time. As of April 1, 2009, Joy officially went independent, parting ways with Warner/Chappell Music Group.

In October of 2008, Joy announced that she and her husband Nate were starting their own company called sensibility music LLC, a recording, marketing, management and licensing firm which hopes to expand its roster in the future as the company grows. Joy is the company’s flagship artist and focus.

On January 27, 2009, Joy digitally released her newest 4 song One of Those Days EP, and it climbed as high as #29 on the iTunes Pop top albums chart the first week released. ‘Charmed Life’, one of the songs, was picked up by Grey’s Anatomy and on May 14th, 2009, was featured for over 2 minutes during the opening scene of the Grey’s Anatomy Season 5 finale episode. Joy continues to write songs independently for various projects for herself, other artists and producers in multiple genres of music, as well as songs for TV/Film and Advertising agencies.

On February 14, 2009, Joy announced the beginning of a new band she formed with singer/songwriter John Paul White, called The Civil Wars. The band will be another creative outlet as the duo continues to write original material for their debut to be released later this year and produced by Charlie Peacock.

Joy’s warm approach and openness, her ability to teach the craft of songwriting with excitement and encouragement, will be life changing if you attend Songwriters 2009. Come get to know Joy and Nate, along with all the Songwriters Conference faculty who will be here to serve you.

Israel Houghton’s mother never expected her son would grow up to lead thousands of people in worship or become an award-winning recording artist.

In 1971, when his 17-year old unwed mother found she was pregnant, she shocked her parents who advised her to terminate the pregnancy. But a simple act of kindness from a stranger who offered his mother hope and a promise of something greater paved the way for Houghton to be born.

“I could have easily been an abortion statistic,” Houghton says. “My mother is white and my biological father is black. When she came home and told her parents, ‘I’m pregnant and the father is black,’ they had a really difficult time with it. Their suggestion was to have an abortion, chalk it up to a mistake, and move on. She chose to keep the baby, ending up being shunned by them for a good chunk of her life.”

When she was eight months pregnant, Houghton’s mother and biological father split up. She moved to San Diego, California, in danger of losing the baby due to drug use. But a woman who was driving by saw the obviously pregnant young woman and stopped to talk with her. “Jesus loves you. You’re not forgotten. You did the right thing by keeping your baby. It’s going to be all right.”

Those words of life were so powerful in Israel’s mother’s life that she got on her knees on the street corner and gave her life to Jesus. Israel will tell you he’s here today because of that stranger sharing the gospel and giving his mom a Bible which she started reading. In time she chose Israel’s name as a sign of new beginning.

“I really enjoy that I’m in the good news business,” Israel says. “If you turn on CNN right now . . . you’re going to hear what’s wrong and a lot of bad news. I love that I get to give people hope, a chance to exhale and find encouragement. At the heart of it, I want people to connect with God. If you look at my albums thematically, the early ones were about the church and what God is doing. On the most recent records, the message has shifted to social and global concerns, focusing on identity and the purpose of God in everyone’s life. I strongly believe that those of us who consider ourselves worshippers need to have a heart for social justice. ” “Power of One” is a song he wrote specifically around that thought and is the title of his newest project which came out this spring.

Israel has won 2 Stellar Awards, 6 Dove Awards, 2 Grammy Awards, a Soul Train Award and has 2 gold-selling albums to his name. Mostly known for his cross-cultural style of Christian music that fuses elements from Gospel music, jazz and rock, Israel is currently signed to Integrity Music. He has also written and co-written 11 CCLI Top 500 favorites, served as worship leader at Hillsong conferences, Franklin Graham crusades and is a featured CompassionArt songwriter and artist, as well as a worship leader at Joel Osteen’s Lakewood Church in Houston, TX. He ministers through concerts in the US and around the world, has accompanied Alicia Keys at the 2007 MTV Video Music Awards for a performance of George Michael’s “Freedom ’90″, and performed at the 50th Annual Grammy Awards in a segment saluting Gospel music.

“I really enjoy what I do,” Houghton comments. “It’s about getting a bigger picture of what’s going on in the world instead of focusing on my life, wants and needs. It’s about connecting people around the world.”

Excerpts taken from Wikipedia & The Baptist Standard article published May 15, 2009

Songwriters 2009 promises to be packed with artists, producers, and songwriters who have been in the music industry for years and have loads to share with registrants. My goal is to give you a smattering of each one’s background to produce a little excitement in you about coming to this special event. Where to start . . .

Charlie Peacock is, in my opinion, the “dean of production and songwriting”. A powerful speaker as well, he is the complete package. Born Charles William Ashworth in Yuba City, CA, Charlie is a singer-songwriter, jazz pianist extraordinaire, record producer, session musician, author, and advocate for social justice. Intelligent, innovative, personal, you can “warm your hands” on him.

Charlie’s father, Bill Ashworth, was a trumpeter/educator. By age 13, Peacock was composing instrumental and vocal music. During his jr. and hi. school years he received instrumental and theory instruction from his father and local educator, Dean Estabrook. Leaving high school after his junior year, he married his high school sweetheart, Andrea Berrier, at 18 and began his professional music career after one semester at California State University, Sacramento, going by the stage name Charlie Peacock. What followed were years of musical involvement with a variety of music and record companies and bands but no well known record company offered him a contract. By the 1980′s, Charlie’s drug and alcohol abuse was in full bloom.

Clean and sober by 1981, Peacock renewed his efforts to sign with a major label. During this time he formed a band, aptly named The Charlie Peacock Group, which quickly became a favorite among northern California concert-goers and club audiences.

In April 1982 Peacock’s 12 step recovery group “spiritual awakening” gave birth to a life-changing belief in the person and mission of Jesus Christ. He was introduced to a fresh reading of the Jesus narrative by Sacramento saxophonist, Michael Butera, who connected him with a group of Christians and Calvary Chapel. Peacock began studying the Bible in earnest. He was encouraged by several Christians to leave “secular” music and focus on “music ministry.” Perplexed by this suggestion, his spiritual intuition was confirmed when he read Francis Schaeffer’s book, “Art and the Bible.” Thus began 10 years of writing, singing and performing in the secular industry.

In 1987, Charlie’s song “Down in the Lowlands” was produced by Christian artist, Russ Taff with Peacock singing background vocals. That same year he produced the alternative Christian band, The Choir, his first up-close encounter with the Christian music industry, which resulted in his meeting music manager/promoter Dan Russell who counseled a young east coast artist, Margaret Becker, to work with Peacock. In 1988 Margaret told Sparrow Records A&R Director, Peter York, she wanted Charlie to produce her next project, which he did. Together they wrote and recorded “Immigrant’s Daughter”, which doubled Becker’s sales and was nominated for Best Rock Gospel Grammy award. On the strength of this beginning, and encouragement from Amy Grant’s manager, Michael Blanton, Peacock moved to Nashville in the summer of 1989.

After seeing Peacock perform at The Wild Blue, a club in Fresno, CA, Bill Hearn Jr. and Peter York signed him to a recording contract with Sparrow Records. Thus began his first full foray into contemporary Christian music, including “The Secret of Time” (nominated for Best Rock Gospel Grammy Award in 1990) and work with gospel legends Al Green, Twila Paris, and Amy Grant (with whom he co-wrote the smash hit Every Heartbeat and played keyboards on her 5 million-selling album Heart in Motion). From 1990-99 Peacock produced over fifty albums in the genre of contemporary Christian music and gospel, though he was never comfortable with branding people and music “Christian Artist” or “Christian Music.”

By 1996 Peacock was dreaming of tangible ways to undo the genre of contemporary Christian music. He formed a new record company (think EMI/Sparrow) and signed and developed two significant artists, Sarah Masen and Switchfoot with the idea they would be promoted to mainstream pop and Christian markets simultaneously. Both artists experienced great success.

At the encouragement of author and sports television pioneer, Bob Briner, in 1989 Peacock wrote a critical analysis of the genre of contemporary Christian music, called At the Crossroads, published by Broadman and Holman, and revised, expanded, and reprinted in 2004. He has since written New Way to Be Human: A Provative Look at What it Means to Follow Jesus.

Recently Charlie and Andi purchased an old Methodist Church on the southwest side of Nashville which they have renovated and use for artist and musician retreats. Both have seminary training and are authors. Charlie continues to produce projects for artists in his own studio on the Art House property.

Charlie would tell you he loves coming to Mount Hermon, and is very excited to be involved in the training of new songwriters and looks forward to this years’ conference. Why not come meet him for yourself? You’ll never be sorry you did.

Excerpts from Wikipedia.com.

Some have asked how big a conference is this?

This is not a conference for thousands. It is limited to 350 registrants only.

Soooo. Register early, taking advantage of the discounts that have been offered for early registration and those who are alumni returning again.

This is a first . . . I’ve been dumping blogs onto our Writers Conference blogsite, but not Songwriters. But Jeremy Bentley, host of the conference, sent me a great endorsement for Songwriters from Charlie Peacock, “dean of Christian music”, who was one of our keynoters last year and I thought you’d love to see it . . .

“Wow, last year was so rich in so many ways. Great music and people and the wonderful presence of God in our midst. I guess I would say, if you’re thinking about joining us this year in 2009, don’t even think about it . . . come on!! Seriously, pray and ponder, but know you are welcome. We would love to have you.”

So there you have it . . . you’all come! Mark your calendars for August 31-September 3, 2009.