A critical instigator, a persuasive advocate, a generous bridge-builder, a teacher, a trusted mentor, and an activist. Many times the leader visible at the helm, and just as often tirelessly working from behind the scenes, Michael Peranteau is the player who always seems to know his spot.
So often, that spot has been on the scene at just the right time for so many of Houston’s key arts organizations. He was Founding Performance Director and Executive Director at Diverse Works, executive Director and Development Director at Project Row Houses, and Executive Director at Art League Houston. His work has not been limited to the arts, as he was Co-Founder and Director of the Center for AIDS Information and Advocacy in Houston.
Never identifying as an artist himself, Michael’s most important passion may be for guiding grass-roots and artist-run endeavors as they evolve into small and mid-size organizations. As Founder of Non-Profit Projects Inc., he provided essential guidance for Workshop Houston, Voices Breaking Boundaries, and The Cornudas Mountain Foundation.
It was through these efforts that Michael came into contact with David Dove and Nameless Sound. It was not only his consultation, guidance, and advocacy that were so needed by the new organization. More importantly, it was his infectious sense-of-possibility that provided inspiration and engendered confidence. To a young artist inexperienced in the non-profit world and needing a sense of how organization and resources could help evolve a creative vision, this role is impossible to overstate.
Nameless Sound might never have continued without Michael’s special role at this key moment in its history. And there are many others who would say the same thing about him. Among all his abilities, Michael’s most important superpower may be his knack for being just the right person at the right place at the right time. Thank you for being there Michael.
The creative practice of Ivette Román-Roberto was forged through performance art, experimental music and activist communities of Puerto Rico, New York and Los Angeles, and found itself on stages in Cuba, Mexico City, Monterrey, Geneva, Bologna, Catania, and New York City.
In 2005, Ivette took a break from artistic life to raise her son, coming to Houston as a bilingual teacher employed by HISD. Shortly after, she began taking her son to Nameless Sound’s workshop programs. Ivette has never been known as a brash self-promoter. And after casually reminding Nameless Sound director David Dove about her background as a performer, she reluctantly allowed Dove to persuade her into performing a short voice solo at his weekly concert series. On stage, the gentle mother of one of our youth instantly transformed. Unknown sounds of both exquisite detail and emotional intensity floored a small and unsuspecting audience. She immediately became a hero to the local scene, and one of its most active performers.
In addition to being an extraordinary vocalist and performer, Ivette epitomizes what the Resounding Vision Award recognizes. The span of her career includes crucial efforts where her creative talents were dedicated to educational, activist, and community projects. Most recently, these have included Réquiem, her 6-month community singing project and multidisciplinary performance with Puerto Rican hurricane evacuees, addressing the losses of that tragedy. She collaborates with Power 4 Puerto Rico, a national coalition to advocate for Puerto Ricans in Washington DC. Currently, Ivette is negotiating a fiscal sponsorship for The Collective of Puerto Ricans in Houston, a group she founded in 2019, to establish a Puerto Rican Community Center.
Nameless Sound is honored to have worked with Ivette Román Roberto on so many projects where she has brought her creativity, generosity, humility and intensity to our stages. Our youth program has benefited enormously from her wisdom and leadership. As an individual and as an artist and as a member of a community, we see her as a model of creativity and engagement. We strive to do as she does.
