News

Lisa Gray 1/8/18 Lisa Gray 1/8/18

Apply Now to Be Part of the 2018 Jensen Foundation Vocal Competition

The Fritz & Lavinia Jensen Foundation is now accepting online applications from opera professionals 25-35 years of age for the 2018 Jensen Foundation Vocal Competition. Singers can apply at Yaptracker.com to compete for their share of more than $40,000 in prize money. The annual competition takes place May 21-26, 2018 at the Baruch Performing Arts Center in New York City.

The Foundation expects 100 singers to audition for the chance to sing in the final competition on Saturday, May 26, 2018 and compete for these awards:

First place - $15,000
Second place - $10,000
Third place - $7,500
Munday Encouragement Award - $3,000 and automatic entry in the 2019 Jensen Foundation Vocal Competition
All remaining finalists will receive $750.

The Jensen Foundation Vocal Competition is open to opera singers who meet the following eligibility requirements:

must NOT be a previous first-, second-, or third-place award winner of the Jensen Foundation Vocal Competition;
must be a permanent legal resident of the United States for at least one year prior to May 21, 2018;
must be between the ages of 25 and 35 as of May 21, 2018;
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.

Singers can complete an online application at Yaptracker.com. The deadline for entry is Sunday, March 18, 2018.

About the Fritz & Lavinia Jensen Foundation
Fritz and Lavinia Jensen were lifelong supporters of the arts who benefited many musicians and musical organizations during their lives. The Jensen Foundation is dedicated to continuing their philanthropic vision of support for the musical arts. The centerpiece of the Foundation’s efforts, the annual Jensen Foundation Vocal Competition, supports young artists pursuing a career in opera. Since the Competition’s inception in 2000, 126 young singers have received more than a $580,000 in support.

Lisa Gray 5/21/17 Lisa Gray 5/21/17

Countertenor Andrey Nemzer Wins 18th Annual Jensen Foundation Vocal Competition

NEW YORK CITY, NY -- On Saturday, May 20, 2017, the Fritz & Lavinia Jensen Foundation awarded Andrey Nemzer First Place in the 18th annual Jensen Foundation Vocal Competition in New York City. For the final day of the competition, Mr. Nemzer, a countertenor, performed “Empio Diro Tu Sei” from George Frideric Handel’s Giulio Cesare in Egitto and “Dawn, Still Darkness” from Flight by Jonathan Dove. As the winner of the competition, Mr. Nemzer received $15,000.

"I feel very excited to win the Jensen Foundation Vocal Competition, because of its outstanding reputation and because of the amazing financial and creative aid I've received as a result of this victory," said Mr. Nemzer. "The monetary prize will help me make one of my dreams to become true: to record a CD of Rachmaninoff art song cycles. Receiving great support from a foundation like the Jensen Foundation helps keep my faith in the brighter future of this beautiful art."

A native of Moscow, Russia, Mr. Nemzer began his studies at Moscow Choir College, after which he became a touring soloist with the Moscow Boys Choir under the direction of Victor Popov. He earned an Artist Diploma from Duquesne University in Pittsburgh, PA. Mr. Nemzer frequently collaborates with renowned Russian instrumental and vocal ensembles including the Tchaikovsky Symphony Orchestra and Moscow Soloists Chamber Orchestra. In the United States, he is a principal soloist with The Mendelssohn Choir of Pittsburgh and frequently appears with the Opera Theater of Pittsburgh Summerfest.

Other 2017 Jensen award winners were bass-baritone Christian Pursell (Second Award Winner - $10,000), bass-baritone André Courville ($7,500), and mezzo-soprano Hannah Ludwig (Munday Encouragement Award Winner - $3,000).

(L-R) Christian Pursell, Andre Courville, Hannah Ludwig

These singers distinguished themselves from a field of 102 auditioners and 274 applicants. Judges for the 2017 Finals were F. Paul Driscoll, Rosalind Elias, and Michael Heaston. (Read their bios.) Judges for the Preliminary Rounds, held Monday-Thursday, were Jensen Foundation Trustees Jane Pardue, Ben Leaptrott, and Oliver Worthington. The 2017 Jensen Foundation Vocal Competition was held May 15-20 in the Engelman Recital Hall at Baruch Performing Arts Center in New York City.

About the Fritz & Lavinia Jensen Foundation
The Fritz and Lavinia Jensen Foundation is a 501 (c) (3) nonprofit foundation, established by Lavinia Jensen in honor of her late husband, Fritz Jensen. 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, and including this year’s award winners, 129 singers have received more than $610,000 in support.

Lisa Gray 5/19/17 Lisa Gray 5/19/17

Finalists Announced for the 2017 Jensen Foundation Vocal Competition

NEW YORK, NY – After four days of preliminary auditions this week, finalists to the 2017 Jensen Foundation Vocal Competition have been announced. They are:

The Finals of the 2017 Jensen Foundation Vocal Competition will be held Saturday, May 20th at 1 PM at Engelman Recital Hall, Baruch Performing Arts Center, 55 Lexington Avenue, New York. The event is free and open to the public, and the winners will be named at the conclusion of the event.

More than 270 singers applied to perform in the 2017 Jensen Foundation Vocal Competition. One hundred two singers were heard, and these twelve finalists were selected. They will compete for more than $40,000 in awards, including:

•   $15,000 for the First Place Winner
•   $10,000 for the Second Place Winner
•   $7,500 for the Third Place Winner
•   $3,000 for the Munday Encouragement Award winner

The Jensen Foundation has assembled a distinguished roster of judges for the 2017 Finals Competition. They are:

•   F. Paul Driscoll has been Editor-in-Chief of OPERA NEWS since 2003. He has served as a lecturer at such institutions as the Art Song Festival at Baldwin-Wallace College, the Metropolitan Opera Club, the Wagner Society of New York, and the Metropolitan Opera Guild’s “Singers Studio” interview series. In 2016, he received an honorary doctorate from Manhattan School of Music.
•   Rosalind Elias is one of the finest singing-actresses of our time. She has performed leading roles with distinction with premier opera companies throughout the world, including the Metropolitan Opera, San Francisco Opera, Vienna State Opera, and Paris Opera. Ms. Elias is a graduate of the New England Conservatory of Music with an Honorary Doctorate of Music.
•   Michael Heaston is Executive Director of the prestigious Lindemann Young Artist Development Program at the Metropolitan Opera. Mr. Heaston has presented master classes at numerous conservatories and universities, including The Juilliard School, University of Michigan, University of Maryland, University of North Texas, and Miami Summer Music Festival. He also serves on the Singer Training and New Works Forums for Opera America.

About the Fritz & Lavinia Jensen Foundation
The Fritz and Lavinia Jensen Foundation is a 501 (c) (3) nonprofit foundation, established by Lavinia Jensen in honor of her late husband, Fritz Jensen. 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, and including this year’s award winners, 126 singers have received more than $610,000 in support.

Lisa Gray 5/12/17 Lisa Gray 5/12/17

Helpful Information for Jensen Auditioners

The 2017 Jensen Foundation Vocal Competition begins Monday, May 15. Below we offer some information auditioners should find helpful.

What’s At Stake: The First Place winner of the 2017 Jensen Foundation Vocal Competition receives $15,000. The Second Place winner receives $10,000; Third Place receives $7,500; an Encouragement Award winner receives $3,000 and automatic entry to the 2018 Jensen Foundation Vocal Competition. All other finalists receive $750.

Audition Location: The 2017 Jensen Foundation Vocal Competition auditions and finals will be held in Engelman Recital Hall at Baruch Performing Arts Center (BPAC), located at 55 Lexington Avenue in New York City. For bus or subway directions to Baruch Performing Arts Center, visit the BPAC website. Please enter through the 25th Street entrance and look for the Jensen Foundation table in the lobby. The attendant will escort you backstage.

Your Arrival Time: Please arrive at least 30 minutes before your scheduled audition. Dressing rooms are available. A warm-up space with piano is available but not private.

Dress: Professional dress for both the preliminary audition and the Finals is recommended.

Bring With You: Photocopies of the sheet music for your 5 listed arias, placed in a three-ring binder. No loose music. No stapled music. No plastic sleeves.

The Preliminary Judges Will Each Have a Printed Score Sheet containing:

Your resume from Yaptracker
Your headshot from Yaptracker
Your Aria List from Yaptracker.

Our Accompanists: You can read about our accompanists here.

Backstage & WiFi: Phone and WiFi signals backstage at the Engelman Recital Hall are very weak for most carriers, with Verizon providing the best service. Even at its best though, your reception will likely be poor. Please plan accordingly.

Contacting the Competition Director: During the audition rounds, email is our primary mode of contact, so please add the jensenfoundation.org to your non-spam list. In case of emergencies the week of the competition, please call or text Competition Director Lisa V. Gray anytime at 704-641-4691 or lisa@jensenfoundation.org.

Are You A Finalist? Finalists will be chosen Thursday evening, May 18, after the last audition has been heard. If you are a finalist, you will receive an email and a confirming call before 10 PM that evening. Please make sure you are available to receive the call!

The Finals Judges are F. Paul Driscoll, Rosalind Elias, and Michael Heaston. Read all about them here.

If You Are Not A Finalist: On Friday, you will receive an email confirming the list of finalists and encouraging you to attend the Finals. This event is free and open to the public. The Finals performances begin on Saturday, May 20 at 1 PM and should be complete by 3:45 PM. The awards ceremony will begin at approximately 4 PM, after which the Finals Judges will privately provide, in round-robin fashion, three minutes of individual feedback to any finalist who seeks it.

Cancelling Your Audition: If you are unable to audition, please contact the Competition Director immediately by email at lisa@jensenfoundation.org or by phone at 704-641-4691. Thank you for your consideration on this point.

The Jensen Foundation thanks everyone who has applied to perform in this year's competition. To all auditioners: Toi Toi Toi!

Lisa Gray 2/28/17 Lisa Gray 2/28/17

Meet our 2017 Finals Judges

The Jensen Foundation is pleased to announce the prestigious slate of Finals Judges for its 2017 Vocal Competition, to be held at 1 PM on Saturday, May 20 2017 in Engelman Recital Hall at New York City's Baruch Performing Arts Center.

F. Paul Driscoll has been Editor-in-Chief of OPERA NEWS since 2003. He has served as a lecturer and interviewer at such institutions as Cooper Union, Hunter College’s Kaye Playhouse, the Museum of the City of New York, CUNY Graduate Center in Manhattan, the Art Song Festival at Baldwin-Wallace College, the Metropolitan Opera Club, the Wagner Society of New York, and the Metropolitan Opera Guild’s “Singers Studio” interview series. Mr. Driscoll has been interviewed on opera by COZI TV, Thirteen/WNET, Classic Talk, CNN International, WQXR radio, WCBS radio, SIRIUS Satellite Radio, Houston Public Media’s “Opera Cheat Sheet,” NPR’s “Morning Edition” and “Deceptive Cadence” and WNYC’s “Soundcheck.” Mr. Driscoll has been a competition judge for Plácido Domingo’s Operalia, the Alan M. and Joan Taub Ades Competition, the Liederkranz Foundation, the Gerda Lissner Foundation, and the Metropolitan Opera National Council. In 2016, he received an honorary doctorate from Manhattan School of Music.

One of the finest singing-actresses of our time, Rosalind Elias has reached living-legend status. She has performed leading roles with distinction with premier opera companies throughout the world, including the Metropolitan Opera, San Francisco Opera, Vienna State Opera, Paris Opera, Teatro Colon in Buenos Aires, Hamburg State Opera, Glyndebourne Festival, Santa Fe Opera, the Liceo in Barcelona, and the Teatro San Carlo in Lisbon. She has recorded extensively, and three of her recordings won "Best of the Year" Grammys from the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences. As a director, she has staged productions with numerous companies, including Hansel for Opera Memphis, Carmen, Il Barbiere di Siviglia and Cosi fan tutte for the Cincinnati Opera, La Boheme and Barbiere for the Baltimore Opera, and most notably, a new production of Regina for the New York City Opera. Ms. Elias is a graduate of the New England Conservatory of Music with an Honorary Doctorate of Music.

Michael Heaston is a respected artistic administrator, collaborative pianist, and vocal coach. He was recently named Executive Director of the prestigious Lindemann Young Artist Development Program at the Metropolitan Opera. Prior to this appointment, he was the Director of the Domingo-Cafritz Young Artist Program, American Opera Initiative, and Advisor to the Artistic Director at Washington National Opera at The Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. He was also the Associate Artistic Director of The Glimmerglass Festival, where he oversaw the Young Artists Program and all matters of musical administration. He was named one of Musical America’s top 30 Professionals of the Year for 2015. He spent six seasons at The Dallas Opera, where he was Head of Music Staff and Assistant Conductor for over 25 productions. Mr. Heaston has presented master classes at numerous conservatories and universities, including The Juilliard School, University of Michigan, University of Maryland, University of North Texas, and Miami Summer Music Festival. He also serves on the Singer Training and New Works Forums for Opera America.