Jesse Martins, piano
Jesse Martins is a conductor, pianist, and voice coach who has extensive experience working with all types of singers from children to experienced professionals.
Since joining the music staff of Sarasota Opera in 2011, he has been integrally involved in all aspects of the company’s musicmaking. He conducted Mozart’s Die Zauberflöte for the 2019 Winter Festival, Dido and Aeneas in 2021, Donizetti’s La fille du régiment in 2022, and in the current season he conducts Donizetti’s Lucia di Lammermoor. He was the Chorus Master & Head of the Apprentice Program during the 2020 Winter Festival, Director of the Studio Artists during the 2022-2023 Season, and has performed as pianist in many concerts for the company and throughout the area.
As Youth Opera Music Director for Sarasota Opera, Maestro Martins has conducted the world premiere of Rachel J. Peters’ Rootabga Country, the U.S. premiere of Dean Burry’s The Secret World of OG, Britten’s The Little Sweep, Dean Burry’s The Hobbit, Krása’s Brundibár and was the associate conductor for the world premiere of Daron Hagen’s Little Nemo in Slumberland. He also co-wrote, in collaboration with Martha Collins, and conducted two works for the Sarasota Youth Opera Raise Up Your Voice – Intolerance Through The Voices of Children, and Let’s Put on an Opera. As part of the music staff Martins was the cover conductor for Rossini’s Il barbiere di Siviglia, and L’italiana in Algeri, Mozart’s Le nozze di Figaro and Don Giovanni, Eugene D’Albert’s Tiefland, Catalani’s La Wally, Cimarosa’s Il Matrimonio Segreto, Massenet’s Thérèse, and Haydn’s Deceit Outwitted.
Maestro Martins has worked extensively as a coach in his native Brazil, New Zealand, and now the Sarasota Opera and area. He often performs with other area musicians and groups such as EnsembleNEWsrq.