Associate Director of Choral Studies Dr. Erin Plisco is one of 16 semifinalists selected for the fourth edition of the Romano Gandolfi International Competition for Choral Conductors.

Plisco, an associate professor in the Department of Music, will compete in Parma, Italy, Nov. 28-30, 2025. She is one of only two Americans selected for the competition.

“This competition seeks to elevate choral music worldwide and help competing conductors to establish an international conducting career,” she said.

The event will be live streamed.

Brings international experience to competition

Plisco has a wealth of international experience already, having served as a fellow for the American Choral Directors Association’s International Conductors Exchange Program in 2023. But she has never competed at this level before.

“I have not experienced anything quite like this,” Plisco said. “Internationally, I have traveled with my own choir and participated in choral exchanges, and I have also participated in several international conducting masterclasses. But never something as competitive as this!”

Plisco first learned about the competition through an email invitation to apply. She submitted her application in July and was notified in September that she had been accepted. As part of the application process, Plisco sent her curriculum vitae and video recordings of her conducting. The jury based its selections on career accomplishments and conducting ability, according to Plisco.

Intense rehearsal process

Plisco is now busily rehearsing a broad range of musical selections. During the competition itself, Plisco will rehearse with and conduct six internationally renowned European choirs over a three-day period.

“There is a lot of music to learn,” she said. “There are seven different programs of music, each consisting of anywhere between five to eight pieces of music. The repertoire is incredibly diverse and ranges from early Gregorian chant to 21st century compositions.”

For one program, for example, Plisco will conduct motets by Giovanni Palestrina, a 16th century Italian composer. In another, she will conduct an entire program of music by living composers.

And she must know every program in and out.

“For each round of the competition, the music to be conducted is chosen for the conductor at random,” she explained. “There is no way of knowing ahead of time which specific piece I will rehearse. This means I have to learn it all!”

If she is selected as a finalist, Plisco will perform in the final round of the competition and in the final concert. If she is chosen the winner, she will be invited back to serve on the competition’s jury, lead performances in Italy and will receive a monetary prize.

Opportunity to showcase Missouri State on international stage

While competing brings a sense of pride in personal accomplishment, Plisco has bigger goals in mind as well. She sees the competition as an excellent opportunity to promote Missouri State’s music program, as well as the university itself.

“I will be representing the university, the state of Missouri and the United States on an international stage,” Plisco said. “I will be connecting with choral leaders from over ten different countries.”

“These relationships can lead to future international choral exchanges for our students and expands our ability to recruit future undergraduate and graduate choral students,” she continued. “Attracting highly skilled students from other countries increases our international visibility. It creates a more diverse and thriving program here at MSU. The visibility attained from this opportunity and the prestige associated with it only further enhances our international footprint.”

Despite the immense pressure, Plisco said she is thrilled about the chance to compete.

“I’m excited to learn a lot and grow as a result of this incredible experience.”