Penecale ’09M Selected as Finalist for Holiday Songwriting Contest

By Caitlin Burns | December 23, 2020

The holiday song “Left Alone with You,” co-written by Master of Education alumna Amanda Penecale ’09M, was recognized as a finalist in the 4th Annual Christmas Songwriting Competition by the USA Songwriting Competition.

Penecale, who works at the Ranney School in Tinton Falls, N.J. as an art and photography teacher, said the song was written with her friend Craig Lackey in 2017 while she was living in Nashville, Tenn.

“I always loved Christmas music, and wanted to write a song for the season,” said Penecale. “It’s just fun to have a holiday song people are listening to.”

Although it won the recognition for the 2019 competition, Penecale said the announcement for winners was just announced. The 2020 deadline to enter is Dec. 23, with winners announced later in 2021. Winners of the competition have their songs recorded and published through USA Songwriting.

Hear the song on Spotify and Amazon.