BETHANY COLLEGE ANNOUNCES SOLOISTS FOR 145TH CONSECUTIVE MESSIAH FESTIVAL OF THE ARTS

LINDSBORG, KS. January 23, 2025 —Bethany College (bethanylb.edu) today announced the world-renowned soloists for the 145th consecutive performance of the Messiah Festival of the Arts, one of the longest-running annual performances of Handel’s beloved oratorio in the United States. This year’s festival will feature an exceptional lineup of internationally recognized vocalists, continuing a tradition that has brought world-class music to the Lindsborg community for nearly a century and a half.

The soloists for this year’s performance include:

• Soprano Alyssa Nance — 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.
• Mezzo-soprano Deanna Ray Eberhart — 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.
• Tenor Aaron Cates — 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.
• Baritone Chris Thompson — 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.
• Bass Leslie John Flanagan — 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.

“The Messiah Festival of the Arts has been a cornerstone of our community for 145 consecutive years, 

and we are honored to welcome such extraordinary soloists to carry forward this tradition,” said Bethany 

College President, Dr. Laura Crawley. “This performance not only celebrates Handel’s masterpiece but 

also highlights the enduring power of music to bring people together.”

To purchase tickets, please visit: www.messiahfestival.org

About Bethany College

Founded in 1881, Bethany College is Kansas’ first institution of higher learning. Located in Lindsborg, 

Bethany offers a rigorous liberal arts education rooted in the values of leadership, service, and academic 

excellence. For more information about Bethany College, visit www.bethanylb.edu.

CONTACT: Christie Denniston

Vice President of Advancement & Alumni Engagement

dennistoncl@bethanylb.edu

785-227-3380 x. 8105

Bethany College

335 East Swensson Street

Lindsborg, KS 67456