Competition 411

Welcome! The 2025 Jensen Foundation Vocal Competition was held in New York City May 12-17, 2025. Below are the eligibility requirements in effect for the 2025 Competion. To receive early notice of the 2026 Competition, join our e-news list.

2025 AWARDS  Grant awards for the Jensen Foundation Vocal Competition were:

• First place - $15,000

• Second place - $10,000

• Facing Forward award - $10,000 New! In honor of our 25th competition, the Jensen Foundation offered this grant award to the finalist giving the finest performance of a 21st-century aria. Read more here.

• Third place - $7,500

• Munday Encouragement Award - $3,000 and automatic entry into the 2026 Jensen Foundation Vocal Competition

• Remaining finalists - $750

2025 ELIGIBILITY To be eligible to compete, singers:

• must not have been 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 on the first day of the competition, May 12, 2025;

• must have been at least 25 years old by the first day of the competition, May 12, 2025, and no older than 35 years at the competition’s end, May 17, 2025;

• must not have been 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 have submitted a completed application online by the deadline of Sunday, March 16, 2025.

2025 APPLICATION FEE $25, non-refundable. 

MATERIALS REQUIRED In addition to completing the application on Yaptracker, each applicant must have:

• been a legal resident of the United States. As proof of residency, applicant submitted a copy of a U.S. passport valid through May 18, 2025; a permanent resident (green) card valid through May 18, 2025; or a U.S. birth certificate;

• provided an up-to-date resume showing opera roles and dates of performances;

• provided a high-resolution digital headshot;

• paid a $25 application fee (non-refundable).

APPLICATION PROCESSING Singers applied to compete by submitting an online application via Yaptracker. We asked applicants to prepare five operatic arias: one in Italian, one in French, one in German, one in English, and a fifth in the language of their choice. At least one of the five arias must have been composed after 2000 (a change in 2025). We’ve compiled this partial list of operas composed after 2000, for those in need of confirmation! Oratorio and musical theater selections were not permitted.

PRELIMINARY-ROUND AUDITION SCHEDULING Jensen Foundation staff evaluated all applications, and selected singers were scheduled for Preliminary Round auditions Monday, May 12, 2025 through Thursday, May 15, 2025. All auditions were in-person at the Baruch Performing Arts Center in New York City. Auditioners could opt to use the Jensen Foundation’s professional accompanist or bring their own.

FINALS COMPETITION The Finals Competition took place in-person from noon to 5 PM on Saturday, May 17, 2025 at the Baruch Performing Arts Center. The Finals Competition was free and open to the public. Read about the results!

Grant winners were announced at the end of the Finals Competition, and finals judges provided feedback to finalists immediately following the competition. Grant awards were mailed to finalists the week following the competition.