Bob Peskin is serving Cantus as interim executive director while the organization conducts a nationwide search for a person to serve in the role on an ongoing basis. For nearly 20 years, he was the executive director of the Minnesota Chorale, where he oversaw the Chorale’s transition from a symphonic chorus to a choral organization with four ensembles, offering programs for singers ages 8 to 80+. Prior to his work at the Chorale, he was the director of the regional chapter program at the American Composers Forum, and was the associate director of the Forum’s “Continental Harmony” project, a nationwide program that celebrated the year 2000 with commissions of new works in every American state.

A composer, choral music arranger, and conductor, Bob has been engaged as a professional singer with many Twin Cities choral ensembles, including the Bach Society of Minnesota, Border CrosSing, Kantorei, the Rose Ensemble, the Singers, and VocalEssence. He continues to sing as a section leader in the Minnesota Chorale, and the a cappella doo-wop quartet The Fairlanes. He is also a member of the Unity Singers, the chamber choir of Unity Church-Unitarian in St. Paul, where he formerly served as director of music ministries.

Bob earned his BA cum laude in music composition from Princeton University, and pursued graduate studies in choral conducting at the University of Minnesota, where his teachers included Dr. Thomas Lancaster, former artistic director of the Minnesota Chorale, and Kathy Saltzman Romey, the Chorale’s artistic director since 1994.

Zachary Colby joined Cantus as its development manager in May 2022. Zachary sang tenor with Cantus from 2014-2019, with passions in helping to connect Cantus with the community through local partnerships and championing narrative programming. He left the ensemble to pursue a career in academia, teaching voice and related courses at the University of Nebraska Omaha for three years. Desperately missing his Twin Cities community and eager to reengage with Cantus, he is thrilled to have the opportunity to serve in this role. Zachary earned a master’s and doctorate in voice from the University of Minnesota and a bachelor’s in music education from Butler University.

Anne Todey, a native of Iowa, joined Cantus in October of 2019 as the Box Office Coordinator, and in May 2021 became the Concert and Operations Manager. Anne attended Iowa State University and Michigan State University earning her Bachelors and Masters of Music in Vocal Performance. After a brief stint in Florida, she moved to Minneapolis to join the Minnesota Opera Chorus, and has fully embraced Minnesota living. When not creating spreadsheets for Cantus or singing with the opera chorus, Anne enjoys being active outside and collecting hobbies.