Featured Speakers & Mentors

Mary Kay Altizer

Conductor, Pianist, Songwriter, Arranger, and Composer

Mary Kay Altizer is currently the Department Chair of the Performing Arts at Oaks Christian School in Westlake Village, CA.  She developed and teaches the digital recording and production program, conducts the orchestra, and oversees the piano department. Mary Kay has performed in many musical arenas from symphony pianist to studio work and is a writer, arranger, and composer.  She received a Bachelor’s Degree in Piano Performance from the University of the Pacific Conservatory of Music, a Professional Certification in Digital Recording and Production from Berklee College of Music, and a Masters of Arts in Educational Technology from Azusa Pacific University.   This past year, Mary Kay was awarded the Excellence in Education Award for Innovation by the Graduate School of Education at Azusa Pacific University.  

James Burnett

Songwriter, Publisher & Entrepreneur

James Burnett is an American songwriter, publisher & entrepreneur.
He is the founder & CEO of Burnett Music Group, a music publishing and production company which represents songwriters, composers and producers to create music for recording artists, film & television.

Travis Heidelman

Travis Heidelman is a music producer and music technology expert. He has released seven singles and four albums for his solo career. He has worked with multiple artists and edited for cuts for artists signed with Atlantic & RCA Records.  Travis will share his approach to songwriting and production as part of the same process, building tracks in the studio with great sounds and strong grooves. He is a Logic Pro specialist and will work with students at workstations to each create new songs.

Shelly Peiken

Songwriter and Producer

Shelly Peiken is a multi-platinum Grammy nominated songwriter who is best known for her #1 hits "What a Girl Wants" and "Come On Over Baby". She earned a Grammy nomination for the song "Bitch" recorded by Meredith Brooks. She’s had hundreds of songs placed on albums, and in TV and film.  

Shelly's book Confessions of a Serial Songwriter chronicles her journey from a young girl falling under the spell of magical songs to writing hits of her own.  It’s about growing up, the creative process, the highs and the lows, the conflicts that arise between motherhood and career success, the divas the egos and the back stabbers, but also the lovely people she's found along the way. It’s about the challenge of getting older and staying relevant in a rapidly changing and youth driven world.

She is well known in the music industry as mentor, panelist, consultant and guest speaker and a fierce advocate of creators' rights as a founding member of SONA (Songwriters Of North America).

David Pramik

Grammy-nominated Songwriter/Producer

David has produced/written songs for artists including Machine Gun Kelly, Bebe Rexha, Illenium, X Ambassadors, MAX, Hey Violet, JP Cooper, Logic, Rag’n’Bone Man, Kaskade, Phoebe Ryan, Kirstin, RUNN, Bryce Fox, Ryder, IDKHow, Hotel Garuda, Jacquie Lee, Chris Lane, Vic Mensa, Nothing More, Kenny Holland, Blasterjaxx, DBSTF, Cemetery Sun, Said the Sky and HYDDE.

Michelle Tumes

Artist & Songwriter

Michelle is originally from Adelaide, South Australia and has been a Contemporary Christian artist and songwriter for many years. She has been awarded ASCAP songwriter of the year, won the Dove Award, has recorded 7 CCM #1 radio singles, gold and platinum albums, and has written for major artists as well as for Disney. While touring all over the world, Michelle has developed a wide range of experience in music production and communication of lyrics.