PERFORMING ARTS
38
SEASON OF THE ARTS
“Then I’m doing ‘Into The Woods’ at St. Edward’s School
in Vero. This past summer I played for ‘Songs For A New
World,’ by Jason Robert Brown, at the Pineapple Playhouse
in Fort Pierce. That was one of the most difficult shows I have
ever played and I enjoy such a great challenge.”
Other outside gigs for Voorheis and friends include weekends
at the Vero Beach Yacht Club and frequent appearances
at Treasure Coast restaurants, 11 Maple Street in Jensen Beach
and Quail Valley, Vero Beach, among them. He considers
himself a specialist in beautiful dinner music. An active member
of the Fort Pierce Jazz and Blues Society, he plays piano at
the group’s jazz jams in Fort Pierce and Port St. Lucie.
Voorheis’ past includes many names familiar to music fans.
He lists Sullivan, Mel Torme, Helen Reddy, George Kirby,
Louis Nye, Johnny Desmond and June Valli as stars he performed
with when he was based in Michigan. In Miami for 25
years before moving up the coast, Voorheis had a busy band
office. “I had three orchestras and myself working constantly,”
he says.
A particular day stands out as one of his proudest moments.
“Composer Jimmy van Heusen heard me play his
song ‘Here’s That Rainy Day,’ and asked me to teach him
(my) substitute harmonics,” Voorheis says.
Although Voorheis was at one time owner of a computer
school, a Mac tech expert and a computer recording artist,
he admits to not yet having the opportunity to create a Web
presence for Jazz in the Sanctuary.
Concerts are the second Monday of the month at 7:30 p.m.
at Episcopal Church of the Nativity, 1151 SW Del Rio Blvd.,
Port St. Lucie. Tickets are available for $12 at the door the
night of the performance and $10 at the church in advance.
ED DRONDOSKI
Pianist and vocalist Jim van Voorheis, founder of the Jazz in the Sanctuary
concert series at Church of the Nativity in Port St. Lucie.
/www.wqcs.org