News
Lawrence Basara Kiharangwa Wins 2023 Jensen Competition
MAY 13, 2023 – NEW YORK, NY – Today, the Fritz & Lavinia Jensen Foundation has awarded tenor Lawrence Basara Kiharangwa First Place in the 23rd annual Jensen Foundation Vocal Competition. For his arias, Mr. Kiharangwa performed “Se all'impero amici Dei” from Mozart’s La clemenza di Tito and “Salut! Demeure chaste et pure” from Faust by Gounod. Mr. Kiharangwa receives $15,000 as first-place grant winner.
Of the win, Mr. Kiharangwa said, “Every opportunity is a stepping stone to Greatness. When you Manifest it within yourself and allow yourself to show vulnerability, people will reciprocate. This prize money will facilitate my audition traveling expenses and support voice lessons and coaching that refine my artistry.”
Mr. Kiharangwa earned his Master of Music degree in Opera Performance at Maryland Opera Studio and his Bachelor of Music degree in Vocal Performance from the University of Oregon. This summer, he joins the Santa Fe Opera as an apprentice and in the 2023/2024 season, joins Pensacola Opera as a studio artist. Learn more about Mr. Kiharangwa on his website.
The Jensen Foundation extends its congratulations to its additional 2023 Jensen award winners: mezzo-soprano Cloe SanAntonio (Second Place Grant Award Winner - $10,000), mezzo-soprano Edith Grossman (Third Place Grant Award Winner - $7,500), and tenor Ryan Lustgarten (Munday Encouragement Grant Award Winner - $3,000).
These artists also advanced to the Finals Round of the 2023 Jensen Foundation Vocal Competition, and the Foundation commends their stirring performances:
2023 Jensen Finalists - Kneeling: ryan lustgarten, lawrence basara kiharangwa. Standing l-r: shanley horvitz, emily blair, taylor-alexis dupont, oznur tuluoglu, edith grossman, cloe sanantonio, veronique filloux, chelsea laggan, benjamin dickerson, lisa marie rogali, jason zacher
Our 2023 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: soprano Nicole Cabell, Roberto Mauro of Canadian Opera Company, and Brian Speck of Houston Grand Opera.
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, 434 singers have received more than $886,700 in support.
And the 2023 Jensen Finalists are...
POSTED May 11, 2023 – NEW YORK, NY – After four days of preliminary auditions this week, finalists to the 2023 Jensen Foundation Vocal Competition have been announced. They are:
Katherine Beck, mezzo-soprano
Ben Brady, bass-baritone
Benjamin Dickerson, baritone
Meryl Dominguez, soprano
Véronique Filloux, soprano
Keely Futterer, soprano
Trevor Haumschilt-Rocha, baritone
Magdalena Kuźma, soprano
Brittany Logan, soprano
Midori Marsh, soprano
Daniel Moody, countertenor
Esther Tonea, soprano
These thirteen singers compete for more than $40,000 in grant awards this Saturday, May 13th 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:
Nicole Cabell, Soprano
Roberto Mauro, Artistic Director, Canadian Opera Company
Brian Speck, Director, Sarah and Ernest Butler HGO Studio, Houston Grand Opera
Read more about our 2023 Finals Judges.
More than 280 singers applied to participate in the 2023 Jensen Foundation Vocal Competition. One hundred two singers were heard, and these thirteen 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 2023 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.
The Finals of the 2023 Jensen Competition are free and open to the public. Join us on Saturday, May 13 at 1 PM at Baruch Performing Arts Center, 55 Lexington Avenue.
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.