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Lisa Gray 5/20/16 Lisa Gray 5/20/16

Finalists Announced for the 2016 Jensen Foundation Vocal Competition

The Jensen Foundation today announced the fifteen finalists who will compete in the 2016 Jensen Competition for more than $36,000 in awards.

POSTED MAY 20, 2016 – NEW YORK, NY – After four days of preliminary auditions this week, finalists to the 2016 Jensen Foundation Vocal Competition have been announced. They are:

The Finals of the 2016 Jensen Foundation Vocal Competition will be held Saturday, May 21st 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.

Two hundred forty singers applied to perform in the 2016 Jensen Foundation Vocal Competition. More than 100 singers were granted auditions, and these fifteen finalists were selected. They will compete for more than $35,000 in prize winnings, including:
• $3,000 for the Munday Encouragement Award winner
• $7,500 for the Third Place Winner
• $10,000 for the Second Place Winner
• $15,000 for the First Place Winner

The Jensen Foundation has assembled a distinguished roster of judges for the 2016 Finals Competition:
Susan Shiplett Ashbaker is the General Director of Tri-Cities Opera and served previously as Director of Artistic and Music Administration with the Opera Company of Philadelphia. Since 2005 she has been Artistic Advisor and a Master Vocal Coach for The CoOPERAtive Program at Westminster Choir College.

James Morris is world famous for his performances in opera, concert, recital, and recording. In the 2015-16 season, Mr. Morris starred at the Metropolitan Opera as Scarpia in Tosca, as Timur in Turandot, and as Lodovico in the new production of Otello. Recent concert performances have included Hans Sachs’s monologues from Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg with the Boston Symphony Orchestra and in Rossini’s rarely-heard Moïse et Pharaon in the title role of Moïse with the Collegiate Chorale at Carnegie Hall.

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, and including this year’s award winners, 115 singers have received more than $535,000 in support.

Lisa Gray 5/3/16 Lisa Gray 5/3/16

Meet our 2016 Finals Judges

The Jensen Foundation is pleased to announce the slate of Finals Judges for its 2016 Vocal Competition, to be held at 1 PM on Saturday, May 21 2016 in Engelman Recital Hall at New York City's Baruch Performing Arts Center.

Recently appointed General Director for Tri-Cities Opera, Susan Shiplett Ashbaker has 30+ years’ experience in the performing arts. Previously, Ms. Ashbaker served as Director of Artistic and Music Administration with the Opera Company of Philadelphia, and as assistant conductor and vocal coach with the New York City Opera, European Center for Opera and Vocal Arts (Belgium), International Vocal Arts Institute in Tel Aviv and Montreal, Theater am Goetheplatz (Bremen, Germany), and the Academy of Vocal Arts. She was on the faculty of The Curtis Institute of Music from 1993-2010, and since 2005 has been Artistic Advisor and a Master Vocal Coach for The CoOPERAtive Program at Westminster Choir College, a program designed to help young singers prepare for advanced young artist or summer apprentice programs. Ms. Ashbaker trained at Southern Illinois University, l’Ecole Normale de Musique in Paris, and received a second Master’s degree in vocal accompanying/coaching from University of Illinois.

Peter Carwell is the Executive Director of the Richard Tucker Music Foundation where he oversees the Foundation’s Auditions and Awards Program, as well as the artistic programming of the Foundation’s annual Richard Tucker Gala, numerous community concerts, and master classes. Mr. Carwell has held roles at the New York City Opera, the Metropolitan Opera, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and the Jewish Museum, as well as acting as a consultant for Lincoln Center’s Mostly Mozart Festival. A graduate of Wesleyan University, he is a native of Washington, D.C.

Legendary bass-baritone James Morris is world famous for his performances in opera, concert, recital, and recording. With a repertoire including works by Wagner, Verdi, Puccini, Offenbach, Stravinsky, Mussorgsky, Mozart, Gounod, and Britten, Mr. Morris has performed in virtually every international opera house. Considered one of the great interpreters of the role of Wotan in Wagner's Der Ring des Nibelungen, Mr. Morris has appeared in this role at the Metropolitan Opera, Vienna State Opera, Bavarian State Opera Munich, Deutsche Oper Berlin, Lyric Opera of Chicago, San Francisco Opera, and many others. Mr. Morris returned to the Metropolitan Opera in the 2015-2016 season as Scarpia in Tosca, as Timur in Turandot, and as Lodovico in the new production of Otello. Recent concert performances have included Hans Sachs’s monologues from Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg with the Boston Symphony Orchestra and in Rossini’s rarely-heard Moïse et Pharaon in the title role of Moïse with the Collegiate Chorale at Carnegie Hall. Born and educated in Baltimore, Maryland, Mr. Morris studied at the Peabody Conservatory and the Philadelphia Academy of Vocal Arts.

Lisa Gray 3/21/16 Lisa Gray 3/21/16

2016 Accompanists Announced

Singers who participate in the Jensen Foundation Vocal Competition may bring their own accompanist or opt to use the professional accompanist provided free-of-charge by the Jensen Foundation. We are pleased to announce our acclaimed accompanists for the 2016 Competition: Jonathan Kelly, Joan Krueger, and Dan Franklin Smith.

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 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. He is scheduled to accompany Jensen singers on Monday, May 16.

Joan Krueger serves on the faculty of Purchase College, teaching French and Italian diction and Operatic Styles. She is also on the faculty of Martina Arroyo’s Prelude to Performance summer festival, the Westchester Summer Vocal Institute, and the Metropolitan International Music Festival. In addition to being in demand as a recital and competition pianist, Ms. Krueger maintains an active coaching studio in New York City. She received her M.M. from University of Michigan and her B.M. from Michigan State University. To learn more, visit her Purchase Opera bio. Ms. Krueger is scheduled to accompany Jensen singers on Tuesday, May 17 and Wednesday May 18.

Dan Franklin Smith is a vocal coach and collaborative pianist based in New York City. He serves as Music Director and recital soloist with the international festival, Elysium: Between Two Continents. In April 2016, Mr. Smith will accompany Polish soprano Malgorzata Kellis at the Polish Consulate in New York City. He graduated as a piano major from the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor. To learn more, visit his website. Mr. Smith is scheduled to accompany Jensen singers on Thursday, May 19 and on the Finals Day, Saturday, May 21.

Lisa Gray 1/6/16 Lisa Gray 1/6/16

Applications Now Accepted for 2016 Jensen Foundation Vocal Competition

The Fritz & Lavinia Jensen Foundation is now accepting online applications for the 2016 Jensen Foundation Vocal Competition to be held May 16-21, 2016 at the Baruch Performing Arts Center in New York City. Opera professionals who are 25-35 years of age can compete for their share of more than $36,000 in prize money.

The Foundation expects 110 singers to audition for the chance to sing in the final competition on Saturday, May 21, 2016 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 into the 2017 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:

Will be 25-35 years of age on the first day of the 2016 competition, May 16;
Will have been a permanent legal resident of the United States for at least one year prior to May 16, 2016;
Can demonstrate the active pursuit of a career in opera;
Will not be a past or current recipient of a contract with an OPERA American Budget Level I company or its international equivalent.

Singers can complete an online application at Yaptracker.com. The deadline for entry is Sunday, March 13, 2016.

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, 99 singers have received more than $500,000 in support. Learn more and meet previous winners of the Jensen Foundation Vocal Competition at http://www.jensenfoundation.org.

Lisa Gray 5/24/15 Lisa Gray 5/24/15

John Brancy, Baritone, Wins 2015 Jensen Foundation Vocal Competition

On Saturday, May 23, 2015, the Jensen Foundation awarded baritone John Brancy its First Place Award in the 16th annual Jensen Foundation Vocal Competition. As first place winner, Mr. Brancy received a $15,000 award, as well as an opportunity to perform in Opera America's 2016 Emerging Artist Recital Series.

John Brancy, Baritone, wins the 16th annual jensen foundation vocal competition

Mr. Brancy, originally from Mullica Hill NJ, has made New York City his home for the last eight years. He earned undergraduate and graduate degrees from The Juilliard School and has been studying with Edith Wiens for the past 5 years. “The performance I gave at the Jensen finals was definitely one of my strongest, most honest performances in a competition setting," said Mr. Brancy. "I was able to sing two of my favorite, comfortable arias and really felt connected to the characters and the moment. I am honored to be among the great singers who have won this prize in the past and look forward to the Emerging Artist Recital Series concert next season at Opera America.”

2015 Jensen Foundation Vocal Competition Winners L-R: Rexford Tester, tenor (2nd Place); Ariana Wehr, soprano (3rd Place); Allegra de Vita, mezzo-soprano (Munday Encouragement Award); and John Brancy, baritone (1st place).

Other 2015 award winners were tenor Rexford Tester (Second Place - $10,000); Soprano Ariana Wehr (Third Place - $7,500); and Mezzo-Soprano Allegra de Vita (Munday Encouragement Award - $3,000). Additional finalists who performed in the 2015 Jensen Foundation Vocal Competiton were:

These singers distinguished themselves from a field of 125 auditioners and 278 applicants. Judges for the 2015 Finals were Ken Benson, Peter Russell, and Diana Soviero. Judges for the Preliminary Rounds, held Monday-Thursday, were Jensen Foundation Trustees Jane Pardue, Ben Leaptrott, and Oliver Worthington.

About the 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, and including this year’s award winners, 99 singers have received more than $500,000 in support. To learn more, visit jensenfoundation.org.