Mezzo Shannon Keegan Wins the 2022 Jensen Foundation Vocal Competition

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MAY 21, 2022 – NEW YORK, NY – Today, the Fritz & Lavinia Jensen Foundation has awarded Mezzo-Soprano Shannon Keegan First Place in the 22nd annual Jensen Foundation Vocal Competition. For her arias, Ms. Keegan performed “Wie du warst” from Richard Strauss’ Der Rosenkavalier, “Séguidilla” from Bizet’s Carmen, and “Cara speme” from Giulio Cesare by Handel. Ms. Keegan receives $15,000 as first-place grant winner.

 “I am beyond honored to have won first place at the Jensen Foundation’s 2022 Vocal Competition,” said Ms. Keegan. “The grant will enable me to commission a song cycle with an up-and-coming composer, a project I have long been passionate about pursuing. New music is the life blood of our art form, and I am excited to start work on this collaboration. I am so thankful to the judges, the donors, the board members, the wonderful collaborative pianists (without whom we would be nothing at all), and especially the other singers who shared the stage with me.”

Ms. Keegan earned her Master of Music degree in Vocal Performance from Rice University and her Bachelor of Music degree in Vocal Performance from University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music. Learn more about Ms. Keegan on her website.

The Jensen Foundation extends its congratulations to its additional 2022 Jensen award winners: soprano Nicole Haslett (Second Place Grant Award Winner - $10,000), soprano Maureen Brabec (Third Place Grant Award Winner - $7,500), and mezzo-soprano Lisa Marie Rogali (Munday Encouragement Grant Award Winner - $3,000).

These artists also advanced to the Finals Round of the 2021 Jensen Foundation Vocal Competition, and the Foundation commends their stirring performances:

2022 Jensen Finalists & Judges

2022 Jensen Finalists & Judges - front row l-r: Dr. Carleen Graham, Victoria Davis, Aubry Ballarò, Taylor-Alexis DuPont, Francesca Condeluci, Greg Buchalter, Lisa Marie Rogali, Maureen Brabec, Nicole Haslett, Shannon Keegan, Amanda Simms, Chance Jonas-O’Toole, Jonathan Kaufman. Back Row l-r: Jason Zacher, Alex DeSocio

 Our 2022 Judges

The Jensen Foundation gratefully acknowledges the tireless work of its Preliminary Judges (soprano Kirsten Chambers, Ben Leaptrott, Jr. of Brenau University, and Oliver Worthington of Butler University), as well as its Finals Judges: Maestro Gregory Buchalter of Florida Grand Opera, Francesca Condeluci of UIA Talent, and Dr. Carleen Graham of Manhattan School of Music.

About the Fritz & Lavinia Jensen Foundation

The Fritz and Lavinia Jensen Foundation, a Donor-Advised Fund of Foundation For The Carolinas, was established by Lavinia Jensen in honor of her late husband, Fritz. Their lifelong love for the arts has benefited many musicians and musical organizations. The Foundation continues their philanthropic passion for the musical arts by supporting young artists pursuing a career in opera. The centerpiece of The Jensen Foundation’s work is the annual Jensen Foundation Vocal Competition.  Since the Competition’s inception in 2000, 421 singers have received more than $844,000 in support.