Meet our 2026 Preliminary Judges
The 2026 Jensen Foundation Vocal Competition is pleased to welcome once again these esteemed music professionals as Preliminary Judges, hearing our auditioners May 18-21, 2026.
Kirsten Chambers, soprano, is most known for her portrayal of the title role of Salome, which she performed at the Metropolitan Opera, Opera Hong Kong, Florida Grand Opera, and most recently at San Diego Opera. She made her Carnegie Hall debut singing Maria in Strauss’ Friedenstag with the American Symphony Orchestra. At the Metropolitan Opera, she covered leading and supporting roles, including Isolde in Tristan und Isolde, Helmwige in Die Walküre, and Marie in Wozzeck. Internationally, she debuted as Elsa in Lohengrin at the Savonlinna Opera Festival, reprising the role at the Hong Kong Arts Festival and Opéra de Rennes. Regional opera engagements include the Angel in Angels in America for New York City Opera. In Boston, Ms. Chambers performed the Infantin in Der Zwerg, the title role in Strauss’ Die ägyptische Helena, and Mrs. Poe in The Voyage of Edgar Allen Poe with Odyssey Opera. Photo by Dario Acosta.
R. Benjamin “Ben” Leaptrott, Jr. is assistant professor of music with a specialty in collaborative arts at Brenau University and also an Artist in Residence at Brenau with The Leaptrott Trio. He is an active recitalist, vocal coach, and accompanist, serving as accompanist for the district and regional Metropolitan Opera Auditions. He earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Music from East Carolina University, a Masters of Music Degree from Eastman School of Music, and a Solo Diploma from Sweelinck Academy at the Conservatory of Amsterdam. Mr. Leaptrott is Vice President of the Fritz and Lavinia Jensen Foundation Fund, a component fund of Foundation For The Carolinas.
Dr. Oliver Worthington II, baritone, is acclaimed as an opera singer, oratorio soloist, and recitalist, having performed with such presenters as Indianapolis Opera, Indianapolis Symphonic Choir, Indianapolis Chamber Orchestra, West Virginia Symphony, San Antonio Opera, San Antonio Symphony. A champion of living composers, he premieres and commissions new works to include diverse representation and visibility in the art song repertoire. His most recent commission was for Last Summer on Neptune, a collaboration with Matthew Ricketts and Mark Campbell. Dr. Worthington is the Vocal Area Coordinator and the Producing Director of Butler Opera Theatre at Butler University. He maintains a full schedule as an educator and performer and serves as the President of The Fritz and Lavinia Jensen Foundation, a component fund of Foundation For The Carolinas. Dr. Worthington received degrees from Converse College, The New England Conservatory of Music, and The University of Texas at Austin. He collaborated with his Butler colleague Dr. Dana Zenobi to create the award-winning recording Joys Abiding; Soprano and Baritone Duets by Historical Women Composers at Navona Records, a division of PARMA Recordings. They published an annotated anthology of the scores using the same title through Classical Vocal Reprints.
