Missouri State University’s Women’s Chorus has been invited for a second consecutive time to perform at the American Choral Directors Association (ACDA) national conference.

The ensemble will perform two featured concerts at the conference, scheduled for March 7-10, 2027, in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They will also participate in collaborative concerts and exchanges with collegiate and community ensembles from across the Twin Cities.

The Women’s Chorus was one of only 16 choirs nationally to receive an invitation this year, said women’s chorus director, Dr. Erin Plisco. Every two years, hundreds of collegiate, professional, school, community and church choirs submit recordings for consideration, but only a small number are selected, she explained. From there, the selected ensembles will perform for thousands of music professionals and educators from across the country.

The invitation is the highest honor a choir can achieve in the United States, Plisco added.

Yet the invitation also marks a historic milestone for Missouri State. The Women’s Chorus wasn’t just invited to perform at the ACDA for a second time. This is the first time in university history that one of its choral ensembles received two consecutive national invitations as a performing choir, Plisco said.

Over the past few years, the Women’s Chorus has earned an extraordinary reputation, she said. Since 2022, the ensemble received performance invitations for six state, regional and national conferences. In addition, the group completed its first international concert tour through Germany and the Czech Republic in 2025.

“[The invitation] represents recognition from colleagues we deeply respect,” Plisco said. “But what makes me most proud isn’t simply that our students sing at a high level. It’s that they have built a community where every singer feels valued, challenged and empowered to become the best version of themselves.”

More than a Choir

The Women’s Chorus welcomes students from every academic discipline across campus. And while united by music, the ensemble has also become known for cultivating a culture rooted in belonging, artistic excellence, empathy and meaningful human connection, Plisco said.

Empowerment and artistic growth

Typically, many view treble choirs as secondary to mixed ensembles within collegiate choral music, Plisco noted. By their hard work, Missouri State’s Women’s Chorus challenges that perception.

“The Women’s Chorus demonstrates that an all-treble ensemble can perform at the highest artistic level while cultivating an environment where every singer feels seen, valued and empowered,” she said.

For music major Alexandra Ritland, the ACDA invitation represents an opportunity for artistic growth.

“Women’s Chorus performing at national ACDA provides us with the chance to work toward a set that showcases our community on a large scale,” she said. “[It] cultivates an impactful experience for both the performers and the audience.”

Paisley Vincent, also a music major, feels that sense of empowerment. “Performing at ACDA means that the amazing people I get the privilege to make music with every rehearsal are getting recognized for all their hard work and determination,” she said.

Welcoming culture feels like family

For art and design student Reese Cook, joining the ensemble meant finding a new home after leaving the high school choir she loved.

“Since being here, I’ve gained more than just friends, I’ve gained a family,” she said. “We all share each other’s victories and losses, we push each other to be better, and we get to create music that is filled with so much hard work and love.”

Music major Ella Greninger said this welcoming culture defines Women’s Chorus. “My favorite thing about singing in this ensemble is the feeling of being one big, happy family,” she said. “I love that we share an equal number of laughs and songs.”

Through those songs, the group explores themes of resilience, identity, justice, hope and humanity, Plisco explained. The process challenges students not only to become better musicians but also to become compassionate leaders and citizens.

Accordingly, that philosophy lies at the heart of the ensemble’s success, Plisco said. “You can use people to make music, or you can use music to make people. Our students remind us every day that when you invest in people first, remarkable music follows.”

Explore choral studies @ Mo State

Photos provided by Erin Plisco.

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