Ivan was born in Montemorelos, Mexico, one of three children born to Francisco Flores and Juliaemy Heilborn. Music was an important activity in the home when the children were growing up since their father sang in quartets and played guitar, marimba, and piano and their mother played piano. Both Ivan and his sister, Mildred, are pursuing careers in music and a brother, Helbert, is an active amateur musician.

Ivan started music study at age ten in the National Institute of Fine Arts in Mexico City. He continued music study in the University of Montemorelos conservatory program when the family moved there two years later. Raul Aguilar, Norka Harper de Castiilo, Ruth Ann Wade, and Ed Simanton were important teachers in his musical development.

A 1983 graduate of Laurel Brook Academy in Tennessee, he returned to his native Mexico in 1995 to complete a B.Mus. in music education with a major in trombone at the University of Montemorelos. He then taught at UM, where he served as band director from 1996 to 2000. While still a student, he founded the Finale brass quintet at UM in 1992. They traveled extensively, playing in Mexico, Panama, Costa Rica and at the 1990, 2000, and 2005 General Conference Sessions.

Beginning in 2001, Flores attended Andrews University, where he taught as a graduate assistant while completing an M.Mus. in conducting under Allan Mitchel. From 2001 to 2003, when he completed his degree, he was music director at the Niles, Michigan, Westside Elementary School. From 2004 to 2007, he served as chair of the music program at Medellin, Colombia.

Flores is married to Anna Gomez, a nurse. They have two sons, Louis and Oscar.

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