Since its founding in 1882, the Bethany Oratorio Society has performed Handel’s Messiah every year. This year marks the 145th consecutive performance of Handel’s “Messiah,” the longest-running rendition of this work in North America. Featured soloists for this year’s performances include Deanna Ray Eberhart, mezzo-soprano; Alyssa Nance, soprano; Aaron Cates, tenor; Chris Thompson, baritone; and Leslie John Flanagan, bass. These talented artists will bring their expertise and passion to the stage in performances of Bach's The Passion According to St. Matthew and Messiah.
Deanna Ray Eberhart, Mezzo-Soprano
Eberhart returns to the Santa Fe Opera in 2026 in The Magic Flute and the North American premiere of Tobias Picker’s Lili Elbe. She made her Santa Fe debut in 2025 as Rossweisse in Die Walküre and has performed leading roles with the Lyric Opera of Kansas City. Eberhart holds a double MM degree in Voice Performance and Church Music from the University of Kansas and a BA in Music from the University of Northern Iowa.
Alyssa Nance, Soprano
Known for her “marvelous, soaring tone” (KC Metropolis) and “unbridled dexterity” (Kansas City Star), Nance is an operatic, concert, and choral artist with a repertoire spanning standard and contemporary works. She has performed with Opera Omaha, Lyric Opera of Kansas City, Wichita Grand Opera, and professional ensembles including The Crossing, Spire Chamber Ensemble, and the Kansas City Chorale. Nance holds a Master of Music from the University of Missouri–Kansas City and maintains a private voice studio in the Kansas City metropolitan area.
Aaron Cates, Tenor
A performer passionate about collaborative ensemble singing, Cates has appeared with the Santa Fe Desert Chorale, Apollo’s Fire, Seraphic Fire, and Washington Bach Consort. He has performed as tenor soloist for Handel’s Messiah with the Handel Choir of Baltimore and as Evangelist in Bach’s St. John Passion. Cates holds music degrees from the University of South Carolina and Baylor University and is currently a member of the music staff at the Washington National Cathedral.
Chris Thompson, Bass-Baritone
Thompson divides his career among opera, oratorio, recitals, and musical theatre as soloist, conductor, and music director. His repertoire includes Figaro in Il Barbiere di Siviglia, Carl Magnus in A Little Night Music, and the title role in staged productions of Elijah. Thompson serves as Coordinator of Vocal Studies at Missouri State University and has performed extensively throughout the U.S. and England.
Leslie John Flanagan, Bass
An Australian baritone with international acclaim, Flanagan has performed at the Sydney Opera House, English National Opera, Royal Opera House Covent Garden, Royal Albert Hall, and Edinburgh Festival. Bethany College Messiah Festival is excited to welcome him back in this important role. His operatic roles include Guglielmo (Così fan tutte), Escamillo
(Carmen), Papageno (Die Zauberflöte), and Ned Keene (Peter Grimes). He is Chair of Vocal Studies at the University of Oklahoma and a faculty member of the Interharmony Festival in Piedmont, Italy.
Join us for these unforgettable performances as these talented soloists join the Bethany Oratorio Society in bringing two of the most cherished works in the choral repertoire to life.