The last Sunday in September will be an emotional day for members of Christ by the Sea United Methodist Church on the barrier island.
That’s the day Director of Worship Arts Marcos Flores, who has been an integral and inspiring part of the church for more than two decades, will play his final notes in the sanctuary. He is leaving his post for the next stage in his lifelong musical journey, opening the Marcos Flores Piano Studio in Vero’s Miracle Mile mixed-use district.
Flores’ longtime friend and fellow pianist Dave Moon told Vero Beach 32963 about the first time he heard Flores perform.
“On the Sunday that my wife and I first attended Christ by the Sea, the pastor announced that the pianist would be giving a recital two weeks later. We returned to hear the concert and were astounded.
“Marcos presented the first 12 Chopin Etudes, took an intermission, and returned to do the second 12, all from memory. There were times I thought the piano was going to burst into flames.”
Another friend and longtime Christ by the Sea member, Jean Ueltschi, speaks for many when she says, “We love Dr. Flores – he is truly a music miracle. We’re blessed to have had him for 22 years,” adding that Flores’ network of international musical talent and guest performers has hugely enriched the church’s worship experiences over the years.
Ueltschi clearly recalls the time, 22 years ago, when she chaired the search committee tasked with finding the right person for the vacant worship arts director position.
After five stressful and fruitless months of searching, she decided to drop by Community Church to see if they knew of anyone, possibly someone they had considered and rejected, who might be available. Just as she arrived, Community’s music director Jose Flores walked into the office.
When Ueltschi explained Christ by the Sea’s plight, Jose promptly suggested she call his bother Marcos, then residing in Arizona, who had a Ph.D. in music.
Born in Puerto Rico, Marcos Flores earned a master’s in piano performance before moving to Arizona where he garnered a Doctor of Musical Arts degree at Arizona State. Ueltschi was pretty sure Jose’s brother was “way too qualified and wouldn’t be interested,” but she made the call anyway.
As it turned out, the stars aligned. Upon due consideration, Flores accepted the job and promptly made the move to Vero Beach with his family – just in time to welcome Hurricanes Jean and Francis.
Ueltschi describes Flores as many congregants have, saying that he is, “appreciative, humble, gracious and off-the-charts brilliant. The Flores family has been such a blessing to our lives at Christ by the Sea.”
Flores knows his final Sunday will be bittersweet, with tears and happy memories. The Flores children grew up in the church. Daughter Deborah Flores danced in worship arts presentations, and daughter Diane, now an operatic soprano, sang there for years.
“My family and I will be forever thankful to our beloved Christ by the Sea for unwavering love and support every step of our journey together,” Flores told Vero Beach 32963.
The next big step in Flores’ musical journey will be his studio’s grand opening gala, which is scheduled for Nov. 13, 14 and 15 and is intended to showcase the studio, students and faculty.
The move is a natural progression for Flores, who is a gifted teacher as well as a brilliant pianist.
“As good as Marcos is as a pianist [and worship director], he might be an even better teacher,” says Moon. “He has lifted any number of his students to levels higher than they could ever have achieved otherwise. Several have gone on to be music majors, often with scholarships attained through their excellence.”
The 3,000-square-foot studio at 702 21st St. has amazing acoustics and plenty of curb appeal, with a green awning and snazzy, backlighted sign designed by the Flores’ 23-year-old son Marcus, a percussionist and digital media whiz.
The central teaching/performance space is an elegant expanse lit by three crystal chandeliers.
The room can seat 100 comfortably, with stackable chairs allowing for multiple seating configurations.
The room is graced with two gorgeous tools of Flores’ trade – a 9-foot concert grand piano and a 6-foot grand piano, exquisite instruments gleaming beneath the chandeliers.
The pianos are mounted on wheels so that they can easily be moved around in the multipurpose studio, which Flores has set up to accommodate one-on-one and group classes, intimate salons, chamber music, concerts, lectures, recitals and showcases.
Off the “great hall” are a kitchen, a classroom for younger kids, a parents’ lounge, a library, an office, a conference room and a “green room.”
Moon says the studio will be a “comprehensive music education facility” and performance venue.
Flores calls the facility “a mini conservatory,” which will teach music appreciation and theory as well as performance. Besides learning how to play their instrument, students will be taught stage presence, discipline and how to perform for an audience – “the whole deal,” in Flores’ words.
Flores’ current students range in age from 12 to 90 and he will continue to take students of any age or experience level.
Performances will include students, professional guest musicians and groups and selections from Flores’ own extensive repertoire, all adding to Vero’s cultural richness.
Set up as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, the studio will be supported in part by an endowment Flores intends to establish.
Photos by Joshua Kodis
