over $35,000 awarded to young opera and classical singers

New York, May 21 -- The Fritz & Lavinia Jensen Foundation is pleased to announce the winners of its Eighth Annual Voice Competition, held May 19th, 2007 in New York City. First prize has been awarded to soprano Wendy Bryn Harmer, who receives a cash award of $15,000 as well as an engagement with Opera Carolina in Charlotte.

Ms. Harmer, from Roseville, California, is a 2003 graduate of the Boston Conservatory. She has performed at Opera Boston, the Utah Opera Festival, and at the Metropolitan Opera, most recently in the company's new production of Richard Strauss' Die Aegyptische Helena.

The Competition's second prize of $10,000 was awarded to Abigail Nims, a mezzo-soprano from Delaware, Ohio. Coloratura soprano Rachele Gilmore took third prize of $5,000, and soprano Caitlin Lynch received the Lendon Todd Munday Encouragement Award of $2,000. The remaining fourteen finalists were awarded $250 each.

The Jensen Competition Finals were held Saturday May 19, 2007 at Engleman Recital Hall at Baruch College. The judges were Daniel Biaggi, Director of Artistic Operations at Palm Beach Opera; Felicity Jackson, Director of Artistic and Production Planning at Chicago Opera Theater; and Robin Thompson, Associate Artistic Director at New York City Opera.