Anastasia Malliaras, soprano
Anastasia Malliaras is a multifaceted soprano and recording artist known for her alluring performances in both traditional opera and innovative modern projects. A true vocal storyteller, her empathetic, imaginative, and expressive nature captivates audiences no matter the performance setting or musical style. Her vocal quality is marked by a pureness in clarity as well a rich and dynamic vocal timbre that seamlessly blends an array of tone colors across her extensive vocal range.
In the 2025–2026 season, Malliaras made her debut with Opera Santa Barbara as Cleopatra in Giulio Cesare by George Frideric Handel, a role that highlights both her dramatic agility and vocal brilliance. She also made her debut with the Santa Barbara Symphony as the soprano soloist in Requiem in D minor by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, bringing expressive depth and lyric clarity to one of the most celebrated works in the choral repertoire. In the same season, she will make her debut with the Modesto Symphony Orchestra as the soprano soloist in Carmina Burana by Carl Orff.
Previously, Anastasia was an apprentice at Opera Theatre of Saint Louis where she covered the role of Despina in Mozart’s iconic Cosí fan tutte and made her OTSL professional debut as Mrs. Hayes in Carlisle Floyd’s Susannah. Anastasia has been a Studio Artist at Central City opera where she played Ruth Baldwin in Musto’s Later That Same Evening and has previously participated in the Young Artist Vocal Academy at Houston Grand Opera and the iSing! International Young Artist Festival. Besides roles in the standard repertoire, Anastasia has performed in world premieres and revivals including the female lead role of Marie in Tesla: A Multidisciplinary Opera, Vervaine in Le Dornier Sorcier with Sing for Hope. Accolades include placement in prestigious competitions including the Loren L. Zachary Competition, the Irene Dalis Vocal Competition at Opera San Jose and the Metropolitan Opera National Council Los Angeles District and Western Regionals. She has been featured as the soprano soloist in Messiah with the Dream Orchestra of Los Angeles and Vivaldi’s Magnificat and Saint-Saëns’ Requiem with the Ventura College Orchestra. Anastasia is a graduate of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign where she earned her Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance and the University of Southern California where she earned her Master of Music in Vocal Arts.
Upcoming Performances
Daniel Ebbers, tenor
Highlights of Daniel Ebbers' performances include a critically acclaimed appearance as Sir Bedivere with baritone, Thomas Hampson at the Washington National Cathedral, in Elinor Remick Warren's The Legend of King Arthur. As an artist in residence with the Los Angeles Opera, Mr. Ebbers has performed as Gastone in La Traviata, and covered leading roles including Don Ottavio, Albert Herring, Lysander in A Midsummer Night's Dream, Ernesto,and Lindoro in L'Italiana in Algeri. An accomplished concert soloist, he has appeared with Michael Tilson Thomas and the San Francisco Symphony, Marin Alsop and the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, the Haifa Symphony in Israel, and has appeared twice at both Carnegie Hall and Avery Fisher Hall. Mr. Ebbers has performed at both Chicago's new Orchestra Hall and the Chicago Lyric Opera in Handel's Messiah. A distinguished Mozart interpreter, he has appeared as Don Ottavio with Opera Theater of Connecticut, Belmonte in San Diego Comic Opera's production of Abduction from the Seraglio, as tenor soloist in Mozart's Requiem, at the Ruldophinum in Prague. Other mainstay roles have been the Duke of Mantua in Anchorage Opera's production of Rigoletto,Cassio in Otello, with Greensboro Opera, and with the San Diego Comic Opera as Prince Edwin in their production of The Gypsy Princess.
Daniel Ebbers recently appeared as the tenor soloist in a World Premiere with the Cheungju Symphony, South Korea of Ho Jun Lee’s Cantata for traditional Korean Percussion and Chorus and tenor solo. He has appeared with the Sacramento Opera as Cassio in Verdi's Otello, Basilio, in Le Nozze di Figaro, and Beppe, in Pagliacci. Other recent engagements include Count Almaviva in The Barber of Seville, and Fenton in Nicolai's The Merry Wives of Windsor. In concert, Mr. Ebbers has appeared with the prestigious Music in the Vineyards Festival, the Stockton Chorale in Mendelssohn's Elijah, the Napa Valley Chorale singing Dvorak's Mass in D, in addition to Mozart's Mass in C minor. In research and performance, Mr. Ebbers is regarded as an expert in the music of Benjamin Britten. He recently appeared in the title role of St. Nicholas in Britten's tour de force Cantata for tenor, orchestra and choir, in addition to performing the great masterpiece Serenade for Tenor Horn and Strings with the Bear Valley Music Festival and the St John's Chamber Music Series.
In addition to his resident program with LA Opera, Mr. Ebbers has been an apprentice with Utah Festival Opera Young Artist Program, Glimmerglass Opera Young American Artists Program, Britten-Pears School for Advanced Musical Studies, and two summers with the Music Academy of the West. Among his regional engagements, he has appeared as a principal artist with San Luis Obispo Mozart Festival, Utah Festival Opera, Glimmerglass Opera, Fairbanks Symphony, and the Sanibel Music Festival. Mr. Ebbers toured the United States as tenor soloist in Richard Einhorn's oratorio Voices of Light-The Passion of Joan of Arc. During this tour he appeared as guest soloist with the National Symphony Orchestra at Wolftrap, the Los Angles Mozart Orchestra, the Charleston Concert Association and the Brooklyn Academy of Music.
As a Professor of Voice, Mr. Ebbers joined the faculty of University of the Pacific in the fall of 2004. From 2015-2017, he served as the Interim Dean of the Conservatory. He holds the BM in voice from University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point and the MM in voice from the University of Southern California. In the Conservatory of Music, Professor Ebbers teaches vocal performance and has been the Managing Director and Instructor at the Pacific Opera Institute. Professor Ebbers’ students’ successes range from winning the Met National Council auditions to advancing to the finals of American Idol. In addition, Professor Ebbers’ students are singing on stages all over the world and have been regulars at many high-profile performing venues including the Met, the New York Philharmonic Orchestra, Houston Grand, Santa Fe, San Francisco Opera, and the Music Academy of the West.
Upcoming Performances
Malcolm MacKenzie, bass
With a voice described as having a “rich vocal range full of inviting nuance,” Malcolm MacKenzie has firmly established himself as a strong presence in the dramatic baritone repertoire. Opera News recently praised him as a “confident, commanding Count di Luna…of robust tone, ardent address, arching phrases and genuine baritonal squillo.” Mr. MacKenzie has been heard at leading opera houses throughout the U.S. and Europe, appearing at the Metropolitan Opera, New York City Opera, Paris Opera (Bastille), Finland’s Savonlinna Festival, Washington National Opera, Los Angeles Opera, Glimmerglass Opera, San Diego Opera, Arizona Opera, Fort Worth Opera, and Pittsburgh Opera, in roles including Simon Boccanegra, Iago, Tonio, Baron Scarpia, Don Giovanni, Count di Luna, Renato, Jack Rance, Marcello, Germont, and Count Almaviva.
Most recently, Malcolm returned to the Metropolitan Opera stage to sing the role of Stubb in their highly acclaimed production of Moby Dick, and he sang Sharpless in Madama Butterfly with both Austin Opera and Opera San Antonio. Additional recent engagements include his performance of Mark Torrence in The Shining with Atlanta Opera, Germont in La Traviata with both Eugene Opera and Knoxville Opera, Uncle John in Ricky Ian Gordon and Michael Korie’s The Grapes of Wrath with MasterVoices for his Carnegie Hall début, and a cover of Owen/Johnson in San Francisco Opera’s production of Omar. In the upcoming 2025-26 season, he returns to the Metropolitan Opera for their production of Innocence, sings Pandolfe in Cendrillon with North Carolina Opera, and will appear with Austin Opera for their 40th Anniversary Gala concert celebration.
Mr. MacKenzie recently appeared as Alfio in Opera Colorado’s Cavalleria rusticana, joined Quad City Symphony for their Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9, reprised his performance of Mark Torrance in The Shiningwith Lyric Opera of Kansas City, and returned to The Metropolitan Opera to cover Rodrigue in the premiere of their five-act Don Carlos, which he also covered the previous season. Mr. MacKenzie’s 2021-2022 season featured him in the title role of Gianni Schicchiat Piedmont Opera, a reprise of his much-lauded Germont in La Traviata at Toledo Opera, and the dual roles of Master Johnson and Master Owen in Omarat Spoleto Festival.
Upcoming Performances
Central Valley Youth Chorus
Central Valley Youth Chorus (CVYC) brings young singers together to explore creativity, build friendships, and experience the joy of making music as a team. Through the transformative art of choral music, singers grow in confidence and compassion, with plenty of opportunities to perform throughout the community. Open to students in grades 1–8, CVYC helps singers develop healthy vocal technique and strong musicianship while making meaningful musical connections.
Registration is now open, and families can learn more or enroll young singers by visiting centralvalleyyouthchorus.org today. New and returning singers of all experience levels are welcome!
Beth Holtan, Central Valley Youth Chorus Artistic Director
Beth Holtan is a dedicated music educator with over 31 years of teaching experience in the Central Valley. She holds a degree in Music Education from the University of the Pacific and a Master’s in Educational Administration from California State University, Stanislaus. Throughout her career, she has taught choir, band, orchestra, handbells, drama, musical theater, classroom music, and physical education, inspiring students to discover their talents and build lifelong skills through the performing arts.
Beth currently teaches elementary classroom music and choir in Turlock Unified School District and is in her third season as the Founding Artistic Director of the Central Valley Youth Choir. She previously developed and expanded successful music and performing arts programs, creating meaningful performance opportunities for students at every level.
Her leadership extends beyond the classroom as the Stanislaus County Music Educators Association (SCMEA) Jr. High Honor Choir Coordinator and as an Induction Mentor for beginning teachers for eight years. She was honored as the 2020–21 Stanislaus County Junior High School Teacher of the Year.
Beth is passionate about creating a safe, nurturing environment where students can thrive both academically and artistically. Outside of school, she enjoys reading, spending time outdoors, camping, and hiking with her husband, Chuck, daughter, Anna, and their yellow lab, Ranger.