When can I apply to audition for the 2024 Jensen Foundation Vocal Competition? The deadline for applying to audition for the 2024 Jensen Competition was Sunday, March 17, 2024. Good luck to all our applicants!

When is the 2024 Jensen Foundation Vocal Competition?

  • Preliminary-Round Auditions are May 20 to May 23, 2024.

  • Final Competition & Winners are announced Saturday, May 25, 2024.

Where is the competition held? The Jensen Foundation Vocal Competition is held in Engelman Recital Hall at Baruch Performing Arts Center in New York City.

What do 2024 Jensen Foundation Vocal Competition Winners Receive?

  • First place - $15,000

  • Second place - $10,000

  • Third place - $7,500

  • Munday Encouragement Award - $3,000 and automatic entry into the 2025 Jensen Foundation Vocal Competition

  • Remaining finalists - $750

What are the 2024 competition qualification requirements? To be eligible to compete in the 2024 Competition, a singer:

  • must not be a previous first-, second-, or third-place award winner of the Jensen Foundation Vocal Competition;

  • must have been a permanent legal resident of the United States for at least one year prior to the first day of the competition, May 20, 2024;

  • must be at least 25 years old by the first day of the competition, May 20, 2024, and no older than 35 years at the competition’s end, May 25, 2024;

  • must not be a past or current recipient of a contract for a principal role with an OPERA America Budget Level I company or its international equivalent. Cover, chorus, and comprimario roles with Level 1 companies are acceptable.

  • must submit a completed application online by the deadline of Sunday, March 17, 2024.

Which opera companies are Level 1 companies? According to OPERA America, the following companies are Level I:   

  • Canadian Opera Company

  • Dallas Opera

  • Detroit Opera

  • Houston Grand Opera

  • Los Angeles Opera

  • Lyric Opera of Chicago

  • Metropolitan Opera

  • San Francisco Opera

  • Santa Fe Opera

  • Seattle Opera

  • Washington National Opera

What is the 2024 application fee? The application fee is $25 and is not refundable.

How many audition spaces are available? Typically, 100 singers reach the Preliminary Round of the Jensen Competition.

What are the 2024 aria requirements for auditioners? We ask that you prepare five operatic arias: one in Italian, one in French, one in German, one in English, and a fifth in the language of the applicant’s choice. At least one of your five arias must have been composed after 1980. Here’s a partial list of arias composed since 1980.

Will there be a waitlist for the 2024 competition? Yes. Sometimes singers scheduled to audition are unable to participate. In those situations, Jensen staff make every effort to schedule another singer.

Is a professional accompanist provided? Yes. The Jensen Foundation makes a professional accompanist available to singers at no cost. Meet our 2024 Accompanists. You may opt instead to bring your own accompanist.

Who are the judges for the 2024 Jensen Competition? Read about our Preliminary-Round Judges and our Finals Judges.

Can the public attend the Jensen Foundation Vocal Competition Finals? Yes! The Finals Competition is free and open to the public.

When Are 2024 Winners Announced? Grant winners are announced at the end of the Finals Competition on Saturday, May 25, 2024.