The Jensen Foundation Voice Competition rules prohibit participation for any application that is a "past or current recipient of a contract with an Opera America Budget Level I company or its international equivalent."  These companies have a budget greater than $10,000,000.  According to the 2008 listing in Musical America, the following companies are Level I:   

1. Los Angeles Opera
2. San Diego Opera
3. San Francisco Opera
4. Opera Bel Canto Washington
5. Washington National Opera
6. Florida Grand Opera
7. Lyric Opera of Chicago
8. Michigan Opera Theatre
9. Metro Lyric Opera
10. Santa Fe Opera
11. Metropolitan Opera
12. New York City Opera
13. The Dallas Opera
14. Houston Grand Opera
15. Utah Opera
16. Seattle Opera

If you have had a contracted role (regardless of size) you are not eligible to compete in the competition.  Cover roles and roles through a Young Artists program are exempt from this rule.  Please contact the Competition Director if questions.