ArtistDirect News
Marcos Flores to Leave Christ by the Sea UMC After 22 Years, Opens New Piano Studio in Vero Beach
On the last Sunday of September, the pews of Christ by the Sea United Methodist Church on Florida’s barrier island will echo with a farewell as resonant as the music that has defined the congregation for more than two decades. That Sunday, Director of Worship Arts Marcos Flores will perform one final set in the sanctuary before stepping down from his post, and the church will celebrate the culmination of a career that has left an indelible mark on the community.
Flores arrived in Vero Beach in the early 2000s after earning a master’s degree in piano performance in Puerto Rico and a Doctor of Musical Arts from Arizona State University. He moved with his family to the area just in time to help the congregation weather Hurricanes Jean and Francis. Over 22 years, church members have described him as “appreciative, humble, gracious and off‑the‑charts brilliant.” His wife, children, and the wider community credit him with enriching worship through guest performers and a network of international musicians.
Friends of Flores remember his early impact. Dave Moon, a fellow pianist, told the Vero Beach 32963 that when he first heard Flores perform, the pianist played the first 12 Chopin Etudes from memory, took a brief intermission, and then completed the remaining 12. Moon said the performance was “astounding” and that the piano seemed “ready to burst into flames.” Jean Ueltschi, a long‑time church member, added that Flores’ presence has been a blessing for the congregation and that his family has grown up in the church.
The decision to hire Flores followed a five‑month search for a new worship arts director. Ueltschi, chair of the search committee, recalled visiting Community Church to ask for recommendations. There, music director Jose Flores suggested his brother Marcos, who was then living in Arizona. Despite initial doubts that a PhD‑holder would be interested, Ueltschi called Marcos, who accepted the position and relocated to Vero Beach.
The final Sunday will feature a farewell recital that will showcase pieces that have defined Flores’ career, including the Chopin Etudes. He will be joined by students and guest musicians, and the event will be followed by a celebration of his service to the church.
The next major milestone for Flores is the grand opening of his piano studio. The 3,000‑square‑foot facility at 702 21st St. in Vero Beach will open on November 13‑15. Designed as a “mini conservatory,” the studio will offer one‑on‑one and group lessons, salons, chamber music, recitals, and lectures. The central hall, illuminated by three crystal chandeliers, can seat 100 people and contains a 9‑foot concert grand piano and a 6‑foot grand piano, both mounted on wheels for flexibility.
Additional spaces include a kitchen, a classroom for younger students, a parents’ lounge, a library, an office, a conference room, and a green room. Flores says the studio will teach music appreciation, theory, performance, stage presence, and discipline. Students range from 12 to 90 years old, and Flores will continue to accept students of all ages and experience levels.
The studio is organized as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. Flores intends to establish an endowment to support the facility. According to a statement to the Vero Beach 32963, the studio will host performances by students, professional guest musicians, and groups, adding to Vero’s cultural scene.
Flores’ career has also included teaching. Several of his students have earned music majors and scholarships. Dave Moon noted that Flores has “lifted any number of his students to levels higher than they could ever have achieved otherwise.”
The studio’s opening gala will showcase the facility, students, and faculty. The event will be promoted by the studio’s Instagram account @marcosflorespianostudio, which lists the studio’s address and invites appointments.
In a statement to the local paper, Flores said, “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.” He added that the studio will be a place where music can continue to flourish.
The transition marks the end of a 22‑year tenure at Christ by the Sea and the beginning of a new chapter in Vero Beach’s music education landscape. The studio’s opening in November will bring a new venue for performance and instruction to the community.
Flores arrived in Vero Beach in the early 2000s after earning a master’s degree in piano performance in Puerto Rico and a Doctor of Musical Arts from Arizona State University. He moved with his family to the area just in time to help the congregation weather Hurricanes Jean and Francis. Over 22 years, church members have described him as “appreciative, humble, gracious and off‑the‑charts brilliant.” His wife, children, and the wider community credit him with enriching worship through guest performers and a network of international musicians.
Friends of Flores remember his early impact. Dave Moon, a fellow pianist, told the Vero Beach 32963 that when he first heard Flores perform, the pianist played the first 12 Chopin Etudes from memory, took a brief intermission, and then completed the remaining 12. Moon said the performance was “astounding” and that the piano seemed “ready to burst into flames.” Jean Ueltschi, a long‑time church member, added that Flores’ presence has been a blessing for the congregation and that his family has grown up in the church.
The decision to hire Flores followed a five‑month search for a new worship arts director. Ueltschi, chair of the search committee, recalled visiting Community Church to ask for recommendations. There, music director Jose Flores suggested his brother Marcos, who was then living in Arizona. Despite initial doubts that a PhD‑holder would be interested, Ueltschi called Marcos, who accepted the position and relocated to Vero Beach.
The final Sunday will feature a farewell recital that will showcase pieces that have defined Flores’ career, including the Chopin Etudes. He will be joined by students and guest musicians, and the event will be followed by a celebration of his service to the church.
The next major milestone for Flores is the grand opening of his piano studio. The 3,000‑square‑foot facility at 702 21st St. in Vero Beach will open on November 13‑15. Designed as a “mini conservatory,” the studio will offer one‑on‑one and group lessons, salons, chamber music, recitals, and lectures. The central hall, illuminated by three crystal chandeliers, can seat 100 people and contains a 9‑foot concert grand piano and a 6‑foot grand piano, both mounted on wheels for flexibility.
Additional spaces include a kitchen, a classroom for younger students, a parents’ lounge, a library, an office, a conference room, and a green room. Flores says the studio will teach music appreciation, theory, performance, stage presence, and discipline. Students range from 12 to 90 years old, and Flores will continue to accept students of all ages and experience levels.
The studio is organized as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. Flores intends to establish an endowment to support the facility. According to a statement to the Vero Beach 32963, the studio will host performances by students, professional guest musicians, and groups, adding to Vero’s cultural scene.
Flores’ career has also included teaching. Several of his students have earned music majors and scholarships. Dave Moon noted that Flores has “lifted any number of his students to levels higher than they could ever have achieved otherwise.”
The studio’s opening gala will showcase the facility, students, and faculty. The event will be promoted by the studio’s Instagram account @marcosflorespianostudio, which lists the studio’s address and invites appointments.
In a statement to the local paper, Flores said, “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.” He added that the studio will be a place where music can continue to flourish.
The transition marks the end of a 22‑year tenure at Christ by the Sea and the beginning of a new chapter in Vero Beach’s music education landscape. The studio’s opening in November will bring a new venue for performance and instruction to the community.