Monmouth County Teen Wins Statewide Substance Use Prevention Music Competition
May 7, 2021
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 7, 2021
Contact: Natalie Golub, 273-382-4560, natalie@drugfreenj.org
Monmouth County Teen Wins Statewide Substance Use
Prevention Music Competition
Ocean County Students Claim Second Place, Bergen County Students Earn Third
Millburn, NJ — The Your Song! Your Voice! Shout Down Drugs New Jersey music competition, sponsored by the Partnership for a Drug-Free New Jersey (PDFNJ), 95.9 WRAT, and the New Jersey Broadcasters Association held its prevention concert, virtually showcasing the finalists and their songs on May 7th at 5:30 p.m. on the Shout Down Drugs website (www.ShoutDownDrugs.com). Winners were then announced live on 95.9 WRAT at 6:45 p.m. by Jimmy Steal, WRAT Creative Director and PM Drive DJ.
This year there were 14 finalists from 7 different counties throughout the state who created original songs promoting anti-drug and prevention messages. Samantha Yannarelli of Mater Dei Prep in Monmouth County won first place for her original song, They Swore. Alessandra Regenye and Angelina Amato of Toms River High School North in Ocean County earned second for their original song, Holding Out. Peter Sawyer of Paramus High School in Bergen County took home third place for his song, Scars.
The winners were chosen by a panel of independent judges, as well as online voting, which began in February and closed at midnight May 6th. A profile of each musical act was featured on www.shoutdowndrugs.com and the public was able to vote for their favorite songs.
The first place winner received a music contract worth $5,000, second received $3,000, and third received $2,000.
“These talented New Jersey high school students have shown their commitment to being peer leaders on the issue of substance use prevention,” said PDFNJ’s Executive Director Angelo Valente. “The participants have displayed not only creativity and musical talent, but also determination to make a difference in the lives of their peers by using their talent to spread important prevention messages.”
To listen to the Prevention Concert Audio Show, please visit: www.ShoutDownDrugs.com.Additionally, the first, second, and third places winners will be featured on WRAT’s Jersey Rock show at 11:30 a.m. on May 11, 12 and 13. To listen go to 95.9 FM or www.wrat.com
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Best known for its statewide substance use prevention 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.
