Competition FAQ

When can I apply to audition for the 2025 Jensen Foundation Vocal Competition? We will announce details about the 2025 Jensen Competition in January 2025. Sign up for our newsletter to receive early notification.

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

What did 2024 Jensen Foundation Vocal Competition Winners Receive?

  • First place - $15,000

  • Second place - $10,000

  • Third place - $7,500

  • Munday Encouragement Award - $3,000 and automatic entry into the 2025 Jensen Foundation Vocal Competition

  • Remaining finalists - $750

What were the 2024 competition qualification requirements? To be eligible to compete in the 2024 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 20, 2024;

  • must have been at least 25 years old by the first day of the competition, May 20, 2024, and no older than 35 years at the competition’s end, May 25, 2024;

  • 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 were acceptable.

  • must have submitted a completed application online by the deadline of Sunday, March 17, 2024.

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

  • 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 was the 2024 application fee? The application fee was $25 and was not refundable.

How many audition spaces were available? Typically, 100 singers reach the Preliminary Round of the Jensen Competition.

What were the 2024 aria requirements for auditioners? We asked 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 1980. Here’s a partial list of arias composed since 1980.

Was there a waitlist for the 2024 competition? Yes. Sometimes singers scheduled to audition were unable to participate. In those situations, Jensen staff made every effort to schedule another singer.

Was a professional accompanist provided? Yes. The Jensen Foundation made a professional accompanist available to singers at no cost. Meet our 2024 Accompanists. Singers could opt instead to bring their own accompanist.

Who were the judges for the 2024 Jensen Competition? Read about our Preliminary-Round Judges and our Finals Judges.

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

When were 2024 Winners Announced? Grant winners were announced at the end of the Finals Competition on Saturday, May 25, 2024.