In November of 2008 Marcus will be making his mainstage international debut as Rinuccio in Puccini’s Gianni Schicchi with Greek National Opera in Athens. Then, in early 2009 Marcus will be singing his first Don Ramiro in Rossini’s La Cenerntola with Croatia National Opera in Zagreb. Other upcoming roles and performances include Alfredo/Gastone in Verdi’s La Traviata with Skagit Opera and a return to Seattle Opera’s YAP as a guest artist in Britten’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream.

Marcus recently completed his second year as a young artist with Seattle Opera’s Young Artist Program. His roles included Beppe in Donizeti’s Rita, the trio tenor in Bernstein’s Trouble in Tahiti, Rinuccio in Puccini’s Gianni Schicchi, Petit Viellard & Rainette in Ravel’s Enfant et les Sortileges, Don Jose in a La Tragedie de Carmen, Loge in a children’s adaptation of Wagner’s Das Rhinegold, and as Fenton in Verdi’s Falstaff.

In 2005, Marcus appeared as Alfred/Eisenstein is Seattle Opera guild’s opera previews of Strauss’ Die Fledermaus. He has also performed as The Duke of Mantua from Verdi’s Rigoletto with Seattle Opera Guild’s Opera previews. In 2003, Marcus performed with NOISE (Northwest Opera in Schools etc.) as Hoffman from Offenbach’s The Tales of Hoffman.
Marcus was a regular member of Seattle Opera’s regular chorus from spring 2003 until Summer 2006, performing on the main stage in productions including Fidelio, Carmen, Girl of the Golden West, Parsifal, Lohengrin, Rigoletto, Manon Lescaut, Florencia, The Tales of Hoffman, Die Fledermaus, and most recently MacBeth.

Marcus is the recipient of two career grants from the Seattle Opera guild (2006 and 2007). He also received honorable mention in the 2005 Performing Arts Festival of the Eastside opera solo competition.

Marcus Shelton, Tenor