Jensen Competition Celebrates 25th Anniversary with New Singer Award
UPDATED MARCH 17, 2025 – The Jensen Foundation Vocal Competition is celebrating its 25th anniversary by offering a new award at its May competition: the $10,000 Facing Forward Award. Said Jensen President Dr. Oliver Worthington III, “The Jensen Foundation is proud to celebrate 25 years of supporting singers and the opera art form. To more deeply support Mrs. Jensen's love of opera, we're looking to the future (even as we celebrate our 25-year history), and that future is full of new works. Our Facing Forward Award will go to the 2025 Finalist who offers the best performance of an aria written in the 21st century. This award will be an addition to our First, Second, Third, and Encouragement Awards, so one singer could win as much as $25,000 this year.”
The 2025 Jensen Foundation Vocal Competition takes place May 12-17, 2025, at Baruch Performing Arts Center in New York City. Judges will hear 100 singers in the preliminary round of auditions and choose twelve singers to compete in the Final Round of the competition at noon on Saturday, May 17.
Singers auditioning for the 2025 Jensen Competition will prepare five operatic arias: one in Italian, one in French, one in German, one in English, and a fifth in the language of their choice. At least one of the five arias must have been composed after 2000.
2025 Finalists compete for:
First Place - $15,000
Second Place - $10,000
Facing Forward Award - $10,000
Third Place - $7,500
Munday Encouragement Award - $3,000
Remaining finalists win $750
While the 2025 application window has closed, readers can learn about eligibility requirements here.
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, 446 singers have received more than $930,000 in support.
