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Meet our 2023 Finals Judges
POSTED May 1, 2023 — The 2023 Jensen Foundation Vocal Competition Finals will be judged by this slate of internationally recognized opera professionals. Our Finals Judges have graciously agreed to offer feedback to all finalists who wish to stay after the competition on Saturday, May 13, 2023. We are grateful to Ms. Cabelle, Mr. Mauro, and Maestro Summers for the expertise and encouragement they offer our 2023 singers.
Nicole Cabell, soprano- Universally acclaimed for her velvety timbre and finely nuanced interpretations, American soprano Nicole Cabell’s notable debuts include her first staged Bess in James Robinson’s acclaimed production of Porgy and Bess for English National Opera; as Handel’s Alcina at Grand Théâtre de Genève, and as Flavia at Dutch National Opera in Cavalli’s Eliogabalo; alongside appearances in full lyric roles, such as Violetta (La traviata) at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, and for her debut at Opéra national de Paris. Recent US appearances include Contessa (Le nozze di Figaro) for Pittsburgh Opera; a return to the role of Bess (Porgy and Bess) for North Carolina Opera; Juliette (Roméo et Juliette) at Cincinnati Opera, Mimì (La bohème) at Pittsburgh Opera, Donna Elvira (Don Giovanni) at Michigan Opera Theatre; a return to Minnesota Opera as Violetta (La traviata) and to San Francisco Opera in her role debut as Fiordiligi (Così Fan Tutte). Ms. Cabell was the winner of the 2005 BBC Singer of the World Competition. Her solo debut album, Soprano, was named ‘Editor’s Choice’ by Gramophone and received the 2007 Georg Solti Orphée d’Or from the French Académie du Disque Lyrique. Visit Ms. Cabell’s website.
Roberto Mauro has been with the Canadian Opera Company for more than twelve years, overseeing the performance calendar, performer contract negotiations, conductor searches, and casting for COC productions. His portfolio also includes the COC Orchestra and Chorus as well as the young artist program, the COC Ensemble Studio. Mr. Mauro previously held key administration positions with Arizona Opera, Michigan Opera Theatre, L’Opéra de Montréal, and Florida Grand Opera. In addition to his other accomplishments, Mr. Mauro has overseen the casting and production of important new works and has written supertitle translations for approximately 40 operas. Mr. Mauro frequently speaks on composers, repertoire, and singers. Learn more about the Canadian Opera Company.
Brian Speck - As Director of the Sarah and Ernest Butler Houston Grand Opera (HGO) Studio, Brian Speck is responsible for selection, training, and career development of the Butler Studio’s singers and pianist-coaches. He currently serves as co-chair of OPERA America’s Performer Development Network and spearheaded an effort to create a virtual audition process for training programs across the opera industry. He is a frequent adjudicator in vocal competitions, including the Metropolitan Opera’s Laffont Competition, the National Opera Association’s Carolyn Bailey Argento Competition, and HGO’s own Eleanor McCollum Competition. Prior to his current position, Mr. Speck served as HGO’s Company Manager, leading Rehearsal Planning and Artist Services. Mr. Speck holds degrees in voice performance from Pepperdine University and Rice University. Learn more about Houston Grand Opera.
Meet our 2023 Preliminary Judges
The 2023 Jensen Foundation Vocal Competition is pleased to welcome these esteemed music professionals as Preliminary Judges, hearing our auditioners May 8-11, 2023.
Kirsten Chambers, soprano, has sung the title role of Salome at the Metropolitan Opera, Opera Hong Kong, and Florida Grand Opera. Her Carnegie Hall debut was Maria in Richard Strauss’ Friedenstag with the American Symphony Orchestra. She first joined the roster of the Metropolitan Opera as a cover of Isolde in Tristan und Isolde and rejoined the Metropolitan Opera roster in the 2016-17 season for Die Walküre and to cover Marie in Wozzeck in 2019-20. Abroad, she has sung Elsa in Lohengrin with the Savonlinna Opera Festival, Opéra de Rennes, and the Hong Kong Arts Festival. Favorite engagements include Erwartung with The Orchestra Now, Strauss’ Die Ägyptische Helena with Odyssey Opera, and as the Angel in Angels in America for New York City Opera. Ms. Chambers earned degrees from Illinois Wesleyan University and the Moores School of Music at the University of Houston. Visit her website to learn more.
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, a component fund of Foundation For The Carolinas.
Oliver Worthington, baritone, is an Assistant Professor of Music and Coordinator of the Voice Area at Butler University. He also serves as the producing director of Butler Opera Theater. He has recently been featured on recordings of Lord, How Come We Here? and Joys Abiding on Parma Recordings. He performs extensively as an opera singer, oratorio soloist, and recitalist, appearing regionally with Indianapolis Opera, South Texas Lyric Opera, San Antonio Opera, San Antonio Symphony, Hill Country Lyric, Austin Opera and Lone Star Lyric in diverse rolesn- from Eisenstein in Die Fledermaus to Mamma Agatha in Viva la Mamma. Dr. Worthington maintains a full schedule as an educator and performer, and he serves as the President of The Fritz and Lavinia Jensen Foundation, a component fund of Foundation For The Carolinas.
More about the 2023 Jensen Competition
Meet our 2023 Jensen Accompanists
When the Jensen Competition grants auditions, we offer singers the option to perform with professional accompanists we make available at no charge. Once again this year, we are privileged to welcome back two of New York’s finest collaborators!
Dan Franklin Smith is a vocal coach and collaborative pianist based in New York City. He served for 10 years as Music Director and recital soloist with the international festival Elysium: Between-Two-Continents, performing in Europe and the United States. Mr. Smith graduated as a piano major from the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor. To learn more, visit his website. Dan will accompany singers scheduled to audition Monday, May 8 and Thursday, May 11.
Jonathan Kelly is an assistant conductor at The Metropolitan Opera. He has worked in a similar capacity at the San Francisco Opera, Glimmerglass Opera, Opera Theatre of Saint Louis, Opera Theater of Lucca, and the Chautauqua Institution. Frequently seen in concert, Mr. Kelly has appeared with many of today’s leading performers, including Placido Domingo, Renée Fleming, Elina Garanča, Susan Graham, Hei-Kyung Hong, Ana María Martínez, Anna Netrebko, Ramon Vargas, and Rolando Villazon. Formerly a lecturer at Yale University, he is now a faculty member at the Manhattan School of Music. Mr. Kelly graduated summa cum laude from the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music and continued his studies at the Manhattan School of Music. Jonathan will accompany singers scheduled to audition on Tuesday-Wednesday, May 9-10, and singers who perform in the Finals Round on Saturday, May 13, 2023.
More About the 2023 Jensen Competition
Mezzo Shannon Keegan Wins the 2022 Jensen Foundation Vocal Competition
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:
Aubry Ballarò | Soprano
Victoria Davis | Soprano
Alex DeSocio | Baritone
Taylor-Alexis DuPont | Mezzo-Soprano
Chance Jonas-O'Toole | Tenor
Jonathan Kaufman | Tenor
Amanda Simms | Soprano
Jason Zacher | Bass-Baritone
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.
And the 2022 Jensen Finalists are...
POSTED MAY 19, 2022 – NEW YORK, NY – After four days of preliminary auditions this week, finalists to the 2022 Jensen Foundation Vocal Competition have been announced. They are:
Aubry Ballarò | Soprano
Maureen Brabec | Soprano
Victoria Davis | Soprano
Alex DeSocio | Baritone
Taylor-Alexis DuPont | Mezzo-Soprano
Nicole Haslett | Soprano
Chance Jonas-O'Toole | Tenor
Jonathan Kaufman | Tenor
Shannon Keegan | Mezzo-Soprano
Lisa Marie Rogali | Mezzo-Soprano
Amanda Simms | Soprano
Jason Zacher | Bass-Baritone
These twelve singers compete for more than $40,000 in grant awards this Saturday, May 21st at 1 PM at Engelman Recital Hall, Baruch Performing Arts Center in New York City. The singers will be judged by a distinguished panel of opera professionals:
Gregory Buchalter is currently Music Director of Varna International and conductor of Florida Grand Opera, Opera Orlando, Vienna Summer Music Festival, Pacific Northwest Opera, and the South Florida Symphony. He has previously been Artistic Director of Opera Fairbanks and Opera Las Vegas.
Francesca Condeluci is the Director of Classical at UIA Talent Agency. Recognized for her ability to identify great talent, Francesca is a guest faculty member at the Potomac Vocal Institute and Drake University.
Dr. Carleen Graham is the Inaugural Dean of the Vocal Division at Manhattan School of Music where she oversees classical voice and related studies, opera theatre and choral departments. Dr. Graham holds degrees from Teachers College Columbia University, New England Conservatory of Music, and Ohio University.
More than 200 singers applied to participate in the 2022 Jensen Foundation Vocal Competition. Ninety-three singers were heard, and these twelve finalists were selected. They compete for:
$15,000, First Place Grant Award
$10,000, Second Place Grant Award
$7,500, Third Place Grant Award
$3,000, Munday Encouragement Grant Award
Each non-award-winning finalist receives a grant of $750.
The Jensen Foundation thanks its judges for the preliminary rounds of the 2022 Competition: Ms. Kirsten Chambers, soprano; Mr. Ben Leaptrott of Brenau University; and Mr. Oliver Worthington of Butler University, as well as accompanists Jonathan Kelly and Dan Franklin Smith. In addition, the Jensen Foundation thanks Kathleen Kelly, who agreed to serve as a 2022 Finals Judge but is now unable to be with us on May 21.