Marcello Fantoni has studied classical guitar since the age of eight. Under the guidance of Lena Kokkaliari and with Paolo Paolini at the Conservatory of Milan he graduated summa cum laude in performance, as well as studying composition. Later he studied musical analysis at the University of Cremona. He was awarded a Sergio Dragoni Foundation scholarship and in 1996 took advanced courses with Eliot Fisk at the Salzburg Mozarteum, with Leo Brouwer in Córdoba, and with Oscar Ghiglia at the Accademia Chigiana, Siena, where he won a scholarship and a diploma of merit. The Rome ARAM Association hailed him as an emerging talent, inviting him to play during their concert season. He attended masterclasses held by Eduardo Fernández (2005), Timo Koronen (2005), Leo Brouwer (2006) and Pavel Steidel (2006) at the Conservatory of Florence where, in 2007, he earned a master’s degree in performance.

His compositions include Perpetuum, omaggio a Egberto Gismonti (for solo guitar, 2004), Omaggio a Michel Petrucciani, Omaggio a Manuel de Falla and Sonata Semplice. He has a number of broadcasts and recordings to his credit, including the works of Spanish composer Tomás Marco released on the Italian label Dynamic. In 2014 Tomás Marco dedicated his chamber work Trio Concertante No. 5 ‘Cartografias of Melodrama’ (for flute, viola and guitar) to Marcello Fantoni. In 2015 he made the world premiere recording of guitar works by the Sevillian composer Manuel Castillo (1930–2005) on Naxos [8.573365].