He studied composition at the School of Music of the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, and orchestration at the Brazilian School of Music under the tutelage of Maestro Nelson de Macêdo. Later, he studied for his bachelor’s degree in guitar with Turíbio Santos and Léo Soares, and harmony with Ian Guest.

He was one of the founder members of the Orchestra of Brazilian Strings, and with them he made three recordings which were adjudged the best instrumental works of 1991 and 1992, and for which he received 3 Sharp awards. In addition to this, he has also collaborated on various recordings as instrumentalist and arranger.

As a composer, he has been considerably influenced by the Brazilian Nationalist School of Heitor Villa-Lobos, Luciano Gallet, Radamés Gnattali, Guerra - Peixe, and Francisco Mignone; also by the Armorial Movement of Ariano Suassuna, and by his long experience as a musician of “choro” and samba. More recently, his compositions have aroused great interest among well-known concert artists, who, as well as recording some of his works, have also commissioned pieces.

He completed his bachelor’s degree in guitar at the Escola Superior de Música of Lisbon in July 1999, under the direction of professors Piñero Nagy and Antonio Gonçalves.

He is currently a Guitar Teacher at various Music Conservatories

CRITICS

"(...) So good that the "fortunate" Marcelo resisted the “Paganini Syndrome” that affects a good number of Brazilian guitarist (...). I prefer the Classical guitar technique subject to musical expression"

(Sarkis Karmirian – Brazilian Ambassador)

"(...) I play nice with the music of Marcelo Fortuna, a great nationalist composer of music (...), but it brings a brand and a clear personal craft better, and that everyone should know (some things are published, others are on the way), and that I play in my next recital in Rio in June. "

(Fábio Zanon - Classical Guitarist)

"(...) The touch lens while penetrating, invades our soul music, but asked leave to enter with their works full of intrinsic rhythmic and melodic structures, where the harmony is the role of a great ship that runs through an ocean full of surprises, moving and quiet (...)."

(Marcos Vinícius - Classical Guitarist)

"Very good. (...) Of course you get success with your music that has a Brazilian contemporary language."

(Rogério Souza - Guitarist and Composer)

"(...) Talk of sharp chords that bring the unmistakable mark of legitimate Brazilian Guitar. Are there, conscious or not, influences how noble: Sebastião Tapajós, Elomar, Turíbio Santos and Hélio Delmiro, distinguished masters of the instrument.
A beautiful and elegant disc, with very inspired songs titles (...).One of the most rare jewel "

(Luiz Pimentel - Journalist)