- All-District Mixed Choir – Dr. Edwardo Garcia-Novelli
- SSAA Honor Choir – Dr. Erin Plisco
- TTBB Honor Choir – Dr. Blake Richter
- 9/10 Honor Choir – Dr. Adam Zrust
DR. EDUARDO GARCIA-NOVELLI – ALL-DISTRICT MIXED CHOIR CLINICIAN
Dr. Eduardo García-Novelli is the Director of Choral Studies at the University of Kansas, in Lawrence, KS. He previously served as Director of Choral Activities at Carthage College in WI, where he had an intense performance schedule, including five European tours, five convention appearances, and performances at Carnegie Hall and Chicago Orchestra Hall. Prior to Carthage he served Lamar University, where his choir was selected to perform at TMEA (first time in 40 years) and for NCCO National Conference.
In July of 2019, he led Carthage Choir to a coveted international recognition, winning both categories at the prestigious Spittal International Choir Competition in Spittal, Austria.
In July of 2023 he led the University of Kansas Chamber Choir to a triumph at the Preveza International Choir Competition in Preveza, Greece, earning first prize in the Mixed Choir Category, first prize in the Free Program category, a special prize from the jury for “Best Program” and a special prize from the jury for “Best Conductor.”
KU Chamber Choir was selected to perform for KMEA (Kansas Music Educators Association) in February of 2024 as the choir offering the “President’s Concert.” KU Treble Choir, also under his direction, was selected for KMEA in 2023 and 2025.
In June of 2025 he led KU Chamber Choir to another international recognition winning the First Prize in the Sacred Music Category and the First Prize in the Mixed Choir Category at the Cracovia Cantans International Choir Competition in Krakow, Poland, where the choir also received the coveted Grand Prix. This award qualified the choir as one of the four finalists for the 2026 World Choir Championship, to be held in Poland in June of 2026.
He is currently the Choirmaster at Grace Episcopal Cathedral in Topeka, KS and the RR Chair for Multicultural Music for SWACDA. He is active as a clinician and adjudicator in the US, Europe, China and South America. Recently Dr Garcia-Novelli served as guest conductor of Ave Chamber Choir in Ljubljana, Slovenia; was in residence at the Tamara Brooks Summer Music Course in Tui, Spain; offered a presentation for the World Choral Expo in Lisbon, Portugal; was a guest lecturer at the school of music in Banská Bystrica in Slovakia and was in residence with the Coro Nacional de Jóvenes from Argentina. He has served on the jury panel for Voce Magna International Choral Competition in Žilina, Slovakia, on the jury panel for Spittal International Choir Competition in Austria, on the jury panel for the 2nd Choral Conducting International Competition of Preveza, Greece, and of the International Choir Competition of Preveza, Greece.
Born in Argentina, Dr. García-Novelli is a graduate of the Conservatorio Juan José Castro with an undergraduate degree in Choral Conducting, and from the Conservatorio Manuel de Falla, with another undergraduate degree in Music Education. He earned a Master’s degree in Choral Conducting with distinction from Westminster Choir College in Princeton, NJ, and received his D.M.A. from the Moores School of Music at the University of Houston, where he was a Moores Scholar.
DR. ERIN PLISCO – SSAA HONOR CHOIR CLINICIAN
Dr. Erin Plisco is the Associate Director of Choral Studies at Missouri State University, where she helps lead a comprehensive choral program of over 300 singers, conducts multiple choirs, and teaches undergraduate and graduate choral conducting and literature. She is a frequent guest clinician and presenter across the United States and abroad, and enjoys working with choirs of all ages. She also continues to maintain a career as a professional ensemble soprano, performing with choirs across the Unites States. Plisco currently serves as the SSAA Repertoire & Resource Chair for both the Southwestern division and the Missouri chapter of the American Choral Director’s Association. Upcoming engagements include presentations at the American Choral Director’s Association National Conference and the Oxford Conducting Institute International Conducting Studies Conference.
Plisco holds a Doctor of Musical Arts in choral conducting from the University of Arizona, where she studied conducting with Bruce Chamberlain and voice with Elizabeth Futral. She studied at Trinity College, University of Cambridge (United Kingdom) for the Master of Music in Choral Studies, where she was a recipient of the prestigious Gates Cambridge Scholarship and studied with Grammy-nominated conductor Stephen Layton. She holds a Bachelor of Music degree in Choral Music Education and Vocal Performance with a minor in Leadership Studies from Christopher Newport University.
Plisco has conducted choirs of all ages, most notably serving as the Director of Choral Studies at Pinecrest High School (Southern Pines, N.C.). Under her direction, the choirs received numerous awards at national festivals and competitions, performed by invitation at the NCMEA State Conference, and her chamber choir was the winner of The American Prize for high school choral ensemble performance in 2013. She also contracted and hosted Grammy award-winning composer Eric Whitacre for a residency at the school.
Recent positions have included directing ensembles at the University of Arizona and East Carolina University, and serving as assistant director for the Tucson Symphony Orchestra Chorus and True Concord Voices & Orchestra (a professional ensemble based in Arizona). Plisco also recently served as visiting conducting faculty for the three-summer Masters of Music in choral conducting program at Simpson College. She is a past recipient of the Colleen Kirk Award, given by the ACDA Southern Division in recognition of her outstanding achievements as a young conductor, and has spent three summers as a choral fellow with the Yale School of Music-Norfolk Chamber Music Festival in Connecticut, under the direction of Simon Carrington.
DR. BLAKE RICHTER – TTBB HONOR CHOIR CLINICIAN
Dr. Blake Richter is a middle school choir director in his hometown of Nixa, Missouri. Blake holds a Doctorate of Educational Leadership, Curriculum, and Instruction from Evangel University, a Masters of Science in Educational Administration, and a Bachelor of Music Education from Missouri State University, where he studied with Dr. Guy B. Webb and Dr. Cameron F. LaBarr.
Dr. Richter directs over 320 seventh and eighth grade students in the various ensembles at Nixa Junior High. Blake’s choirs have been selected to perform at the Missouri Music Educators Association Conference multiple times. In 2017, Blake was named one of Missouri’s 32 Regional Teachers of the Year, in 2019, Blake was awarded the Prelude Award from the Missouri Choral Directors Association for demonstrating exemplary work as a young choral professional, in 2020, Blake was named a Semifinalist for the GRAMMY Music Educator Award, and in 2022, Blake was selected as a member of the Springfield Business Journal’s class of 40 Under 40.
In his spare time, Blake runs his Blake Richter Productions business which specializes in video production, audio engineering, and music composition. He also enjoys co-hosting The Choir Guys Podcast with his colleague and friend, Daniel Gutierrez. Blake lives in Nixa with his wife, Kaitlyn. He counts it a privilege to teach in the district that helped him become the person he is today.
DR. ADAM ZRUST- 9TH AND 10TH GRADE HONOR CHOIR CLINICIAN
Dr. Adam Zrust is an accomplished conductor, educator, scholar, and tenor, currently serving as Chair of the School of Fine and Performing Arts, Associate Professor of Choral Music Education, and Director of Choral Activities at Northwest Missouri State University. With a dynamic career spanning K-12 and higher education, Dr. Zrust brings a commitment to artistry, innovation, and pedagogical excellence in choral music. His leadership has brought his collegiate choirs to international acclaim, including performances in Kenya and China, and state and regional conference appearances across the U.S.
A frequent guest conductor and clinician, Dr. Zrust has led honor choirs and workshops in over a dozen states and abroad and has collaborated with organizations such as the Festival Singers of Florida, The Nairobi Chamber Chorus, and Nebraska Festival Singers, where he also serves as Artistic Advisor and Assistant Conductor. As a tenor soloist, Dr. Zrust is equally at home on the concert stage, having performed major works such as Bach’s St. Matthew Passion and Walton’s Façade. His professional service includes leadership roles in state and national music education organizations, and he is a dedicated mentor to emerging music educators.
Dr. Zrust’s scholarly contributions include peer-reviewed research on rehearsal pedagogy and teacher preparation. His academic work has been featured at major conferences, including those of the American Choral Directors Association, National Association for Music Education, and International Society for Music Education. Dr. Zrust remains passionate about fostering critical thinking, independence, and artistry in young musicians and continues to be a driving force in shaping the future of choral music through his work as a conductor, teacher, and scholar.
Dr. Zrust earned his Ph.D. and M.M.E. in Choral Conducting and Music Education from Florida State University and holds undergraduate degrees in Vocal/Instrumental Music Education and Music Business from the University of Nebraska–Kearney, where he was honored as the 2021 Gary Thomas Distinguished Alumnus.
Kansas City District Choirs 