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.