Originally from Pretoria,  Marcus Desando (a Naledi awards nominee for best Actor in a Musical) started his career with PACT in 1989 as a singer and in 1994 moved to Cape Town Opera where his career as a director and principal singer started. 

As a singer Marcus sang in over 70 Operas, Musical theatre productions and Concerts in South Africa and abroad. He travelled the world singing and directing with New York Harlem Productions, Really Useful Company, Pieter Toerien Productions and Cape Town Opera.

Marcus has had the honour of being invited by University of Stellenbosch, Tshwane University of Technology, the South African College of Music at UCT and the UKZN OCSA (opera school) as a guest lecturer where he taught stage craft and also directed productions.

His production of Rigoletto was recorded and televised by SABC 2 and he has already directed over 40 productions ranging from Opera to Concerts. He was invited by the Windhoek Symphony Orchestra and the Free State Symphony Orchestra in 2012 to sing in Handel’s Messiah and Beethoven Symphony Nr 9, respectively.

Marcus Desando is currently the Artistic Director of BTE VO1SS (formerly Black Tie Ensemble), reading for his Master’s degree in Business science (MSc) with da Vinci institute and Chairman of SANOA (South African National Opera Association).

Published 12 June 2013