Cantors
Allison Holst-Grubbe
Cantor, Soprano Section Leader for Gallery and Treble Clef Choirs
Allison Holst-Grubbe has been singing in church since she was a child, when she studied music with her parish’s organist and cantor. After years of working as a musician in multiple denominations, she first joined the SPSA Gallery Choir as a section leader in 2013. With degrees in music education and voice performance, Allison has taught vocal and choral music to students of all ages. She has performed professionally at venues such as Carnegie Hall and the Castleton Festival, usually with Etherea Vocal Ensemble. For ten years, she worked for nonprofit organizations in Hartford, primarily at Big Brothers Big Sisters. She is currently pursuing a Masters in Interreligious Studies and Ministerial Studies at Hartford International University for Religion and Peace (formerly Hartford Seminary). Allison and her husband Paige were married at SPSA in 2018, and welcomed their son George in 2020.
Zachary Gilbert
Cantor, Tenor Section Leader for Gallery and Bass Clef Choirs
Zac joined the Music Ministry at SPSA in 2011 after moving to Connecticut for college. He graduated from The Hartt School at the University of Hartford with a Bachelor of Music in Classical Voice Performance and Music Education. Zac has sung with many groups in the region, including Chorus Angelicus (a children’s choir program based in Torrington, CT), the choir and schola of the Cathedral of St. Joseph (Hartford, CT), and the New Haven Chorale (New Haven, CT). He has sung in many venues throughout the country, including Carnegie Hall, The National Shrine, St. Patrick’s Cathedral in NYC, as well as in Hawaii. When not actively making music, Zac works at the University of Hartford in the Allen (music) library helping patrons to find sheet music, recordings, and other music-related materials.
