Competition FAQ

Can I apply to audition for the 2026 Jensen Foundation Vocal Competition? The 2026 application deadline will go live in early January 2026. The application deadline is Sunday, March 15, 2026.

Where is the competition held? The 2026 Jensen Foundation Vocal Competition is held in Engelman Recital Hall at Baruch Performing Arts Center in New York City.

What grant awards do Jensen Foundation Vocal Competition Winners Receive?

  • First place - $15,000

  • Second place - $10,000

  • Facing Forward - $10,000 for the finest performance of a 21st-century aria.

  • Third place - $7,500

  • Munday Encouragement Award - $3,000 and automatic entry into the 2027 Jensen Foundation Vocal Competition

  • Remaining finalists - $750

What are the 2026 competition qualification requirements? To be eligible to compete in the 2026 Competition, a singer:

  • 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 prior to the first day of the competition, May 18, 2026;

  • must be at least 25 years old by the first day of the competition, May 18, 2026, and no older than 35 years at the competition’s end, May 23, 2026;

  • 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 15, 2026.

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

  • Atlanta Opera

  • 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 2026 application fee? The application fee is $25 and is not refundable.

How many audition spaces are available? One hundred singers are invited to participate in the Preliminary Round of the Jensen Competition.

What are the 2026 aria requirements for auditioners? We ask that applicants 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 the five arias must have been composed after 2000. We have compiled this partial list of operas composed after 2000, for those in need of confirmation or inspiration.

Is there a waitlist for the 2026 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. Singers may opt instead to bring their own accompanist.

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

When are the 2026 Winners announced? Grant winners are announced at the end of the Finals Competition on Saturday, May 23, 2026.