PDFNJ Announces Finalists in the Your Song! Your Voice! Shout Down Drugs New Jersey Music Competition
March 31, 2021
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 31, 2021
Contact: Natalie Golub, Media Coordinator, 973-382-4560, natalie@drugfreenj.org
PDFNJ Announces Finalists in the Your Song! Your Voice! Shout Down Drugs New Jersey Music Competition
MILLBURN — Fourteen New Jersey students representing seven counties have been chosen as finalists in the 2021 Your Song! Your Voice! Shout Down Drugs New Jersey music competition organized by the Partnership for a Drug-Free New Jersey (PDFNJ).
Erin Peters of Morris County was named the First Round Online Vote winner and earned her spot in the finals for her song, “They Say To Run”.
The competition sponsored by New Jersey Broadcasters Association and 95.9 WRAT, is designed to challenge New Jersey high school students to create original music and lyrics with powerful peer-to-peer messages about substance use, misuse and prevention.
“The Partnership for a Drug-Free New Jersey is excited to have another group of talented New Jersey high school students participating this year,” said PDFNJ’s Executive Director, Angelo Valente. “During these trying times it is more important than ever that teens have an outlet to share their feelings through these crucial substance use prevention songs, and hopefully inspire and reach their peers with the messages they convey.”
The fourteen finalists will be featured during the virtual Prevention Concert on May 7th at 5:30 p.m., featured on 95.9 FM, where the winners will be announced live on air. The first-place winner will receive a $5,000 music contract, and the second and third-place winners to receive $3,000 and $2,000 music contracts respectively.
“The WRAT is excited to be part of the Your Song! Your Voice! Shout Down Drugs New Jersey competition again this year,” said Jimmy Steal, Vice President of Brand and Content, 95.9 WRAT. “These talented teens have worked so hard on their songs and we are excited to share them through the audio show.”
Formerly known as New Jersey Shout Down Drugs since 2005, Your Song! Your Voice! Shout Down Drugs New Jersey has been rebranded with a new name for 2021 that fully encompasses what the competition is about – challenging teens to deliver peer-to-peer original music, songs and lyrics.
The public will be able to vote for their favorite Your Song! Your Voice! finalists from now until May 6th. A panel of judges will cast their vote, and the vote totals from this period of online voting will be combined with judges’ to determine the winners.
Interviews and photos with finalists are available upon request.
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Best known for its statewide anti-drug advertising campaign, the Partnership for a Drug-Free New Jersey is a private not-for-profit coalition of professionals from the communications, corporate and government communities whose collective mission is to reduce demand for illicit drugs in New Jersey through media communication. To date, more than $100 million in broadcast time and print space has been donated to the Partnership’s New Jersey campaign, making it the largest public service advertising campaign in New Jersey’s history. Since its inception the Partnership has garnered 188 advertising and public relations awards from national, regional and statewide media organizations.
New Jersey Shout Down Drugs 2021 Finalists
Bergen County
Peter Sawyer – “Scars”
CITY: Paramus
SCHOOL: Paramus High School
Jacqueline Park, Julia Meyer (H.A.I) – “Take Me Back”
CITY: Leonia
SCHOOL: Bergen County Academics
Camden County
Omar Rojas – “Fallen”
CITY: Lindenwold
SCHOOL: CCTS-Gloucester Twp.
Lauren Wines – “For Becky
CITY: Hammonton
SCHOOL: Camden County Technical School
Cumberland
Moesharlynn Torto – “Addicted”
CITY: Vineland
SCHOOL: Vineland High School South
Monmouth
Samantha Yannarelli – “They Swore”
CITY: Atlantic Highlands
SCHOOL: Mater Dei Prep
Morris County (First Round Online Vote Winner)
Erin Peters – “They Say To Run”
CITY: Florham Park
SCHOOL: Hanover Park High School
Hannah Graham – “He Did Too”
CITY: Rockaway
SCHOOL: Morris Hills High School
Joseph Rivera – “No More”
CITY: Dover
SCHOOL: Dover High School
Ocean County
Sophia Regenye, Angelina Amato (N.T.L) – “Holding Out”
CITY: Toms River
SCHOOL: Toms River High School North
Union County
Lauren Gomez, Meg Smith, (laugret) – “Bad Decisions/Bad Conditions”
CITY: Mountainside
SCHOOL: Governor Livingston High School
