Marcos Santos, a native of Portugal, began his vocal studies at the Conservatorio Nacional de Lisbon and in 1999 successfully auditioned for the selective Master vocal studies program at Mannes College of Music in New York. While at Mannes, he perfomed the role of Des Grieux in Massenet's Manon, conducted by Joseph Colaneri (Metropolitan Opera).

Marcos made his debut as Alfredo in La Traviata (noted by the New York Times as a "memorable and a secure performer") with stage director James Marvel, and sang the role of Baron Ottokar in Weber's Der Freischütz with Bronx Opera, and the role of Duca di Mantua in Verdi's Rigoletto with Lyric Orchestra of Barbados (concert version). Mr. Santos recently collaborated with acclaimed stage director Jonathan Miller on the role of Alfredo in Verdi´s Traviata in Norway conducted by Marc Soustrot.

As a concert singer, Mr. Santos has performed Mendelssohn's Elijah with the New Jersey Orchestra, Haydn's Saint Nicolai Messe with the Summit Chamber Orchestra; also Mozart's Requiem, Bontempo's Requiem, Haydn's Nelson Mass, and Rossini's Petite Messe Solennelle in Portugal, Spain and USA with ensembles such as Orquestra Sinfónica Juvenil and Orquestra Sinfónica da O.P.M.

As a recitalist he has performed all over the world, including Tokyo's Suntory Hall, Yokohama, and at Morioka in the presence of HRH The Crown Princess; also Madrid at Escorial, Paris, Lisbon and recently New York City's Merkin Hall.

Mr. Santos has appeared in masterclasses with Lorraine Nubar, Regine Crespin, Nico Castel, Renata Scotto and Regina Resnik in Portugal and New York, and has collaborated with renowned pianists João Paulo Santos (Teatro São Carlos), Paula Grimaldi, Dalton Baldwin (Casa de Mateus), Pierre Vallet (Metropolitan Opera), Martin Yazdzik (Assistant to Sir Colin Davis), and Joan Dornemann (Metropolitan Opera). Marcos has studied extensively with renowned soprano Olga Makarina (Metropolitan Opera, New York City Opera, La Scala and Carnegie Hall).

Mr. Santos was a semifinalist (among 2000 singers) for the Opera Studio of the Teatro alla Scala in Milan. Future engagements include solo recitals in Greece, Japan and a recording for compact disc.