The first prize winner will receive a $15,000 cash award and an engagement with Opera Carolina in Charlotte. Second and third prizes carry grants of $10,000 and $5,000, respectively.

The competition to U.S. residents aged 25 to 35 who have not yet been engaged in solo roles (outside of young artist programs) at a major opera company.

This year's Jensen jurors include Robin Thompson, Associate Artistic Director at New York City Opera; Felicity Jackson, Director of Artistic and Production Planning at Chicago Opera Theater; and Daniel Biaggi, Director of Artistic Operations at Palm Beach Opera.

Created in Statesville, North Carolina by Lavinia Jensen in honor of her late husband Fritz, the Jensen Foundation helps to cultivate young classical singers through scholarship grants and its annual competition, which was launched in New York in 2000. More information on the Jensen Foundation's activities is available at www.jensenfoundation.org.