The Houston literary nonprofit, Public Poetry, recently named poet, host, and community leader, Võ Đức Quang as its Interim Executive Director, effective immediately.
Founded in 2011, Public Poetry has expanded its programs over the years to include a free monthly Reading Series in partnership with the City of Houston/Houston Public Library, the annual REELpoetry International Film Festival, poetry contests, and publications.
Public Poetry showcases the enduring power of poetry, conveying poetry’s range, relevance and reach throughout the year. Working locally, nationally and internationally, we sustain diverse minority voices, layer multiple genres, encourage collaboration, commission new work, and create new opportunities and paid work for poets. We initiate collaborative partnerships and engagement to enrich the community and to deliver poetry to audiences in Houston and beyond.
– Public Poetry Mission Statement
“My goal is to continue Public Poetry’s outreach to artists, and showcase talents to audiences in Houston and beyond,” said Võ in a statement.
Võ succeeds Founding Director Fran Sanders, who announced her intention to step down last summer and will now concentrate her time on the REELpoetry film festival.
Since November 2022, Võ has managed and hosted Public Poetry’s monthly Reading Series and Open Mic—a role that he will continue to be involved in as Interim Executive Director.
Considered the organization’s flagship program, the Reading Series transitioned from an in-person only series to a hybrid online/in-person series following the COVID-19 shutdown. Võ will work to maintain the hybrid model, which he said has attracted a larger audience outside of Houston and across the United States.
“Public Poetry should make use of our strengths to showcase poets beyond Houston, give young emerging poets a venue to hone their craft, and bridge different forms of poetry,” said Võ in an email to Houston Arts Journal. “As of now I am still managing the series, which is my passion, though I have considered having guest hosts to keep the program lively.”
Võ told Houston Arts Journal that he also aims to achieve proposed financial and organizational goals over the course of the next year in order to bring Public Poetry “up-to-date.”
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Houston Early Music recently appointed internationally-renowned Houston percussionist and music educator Jesús Pacheco as its new Executive and Artistic Director.
“Having performed with all the major early music groups in Houston, Jesús brings a uniquely qualified perspective and passion for this genre. In addition, being a native of Spain, Jesús has an intense appreciation for the importance of highlighting various international expressions of early music to appeal to the diverse Houston audiences,” said Houston Early Music in a social media post on July 15.
A graduate of the Seville Conservatory in Spain, Pacheco has performed with international ensembles such as the Royal Symphonic Orchestra of Sevilla, the Cordoba Symphony Orchestra, and the Bach Collegium-Stuttgart Bachakademie.
He has collaborated widely with Houston ensembles, including Apollo Chamber Players, Ars Lyrica Houston, Bach Society Houston, The Houston Brass Band, Houston Grand Opera, The Magnolia City Brass Band, Mercury Houston, Octave Illusion, and others.
Along with mezzo-soprano Cecilia Duarte, Pacheco is the co-founder and co-director of Arte Puro, an organization “with the mission to bring Hispanic music and art to the stage through musical fusion and artistic collaboration.” He also teaches at The Awty International School.
“Jesús is a versatile percussionist who thrives in the culturally varied music scene of Houston, where he performs styles ranging from early and classical music to contemporary styles such as musical theatre, Latin music, and flamenco,” said Houston Early Music in a statement.
“[We are] most fortunate to have him serve in this dual role [of Executive and Artistic Director] and we are excited and anxious to see his skills unfold in the curation of our future seasons,” stated the organization.
Pacheco succeeds Julia Simpson in the role.
Initially formed in 1965 as the Houston Harpsichord Society, Houston Early Music “presents historically informed performances of music from the Medieval through Classical periods by internationally-recognized artists” through an annual season of concerts and programs.
Full Disclosure: Houston Arts Journal’s Catherine Lu was featured as an independent poet on Public Poetry’s Reading Series in June 2024.
Houston Arts Journal 