Daniel Martinho was born on the 13th of December 1985 in Vila Nova de Gaia (Portugal). After studying at the Academia de Música de Espinho (classical guitar), he initiated his university studies in 2006 at the ESMAE (Music and Performing Arts University), where he completed the Composition Degree. Here he had the opportunity to work with professors such as Carlos Guedes, Dimitris Andrikopoulos, Eugénio Amorim and Fernando Lapa. At the ESMAE he also participated in seminars and private lessons with Klaas de Vries, Magnus Lindberg, Jonathan Harvey, Helmut Lachenmann, Vic Hoyland, Ricardo Climent, among others. Later, he began working on his Masters Degree in Composition and Musical Theory, at the same institution. Two of his works for ensemble - "Cosmos" (2007) and "Concerto para Contrabaixo" (2009) - were chosen to be performed by the Remix Ensemble Casa da Música, under the direction of Rolf Gupta and Peter Rundel. Both events took place at the Casa da Música (Porto). In 2009 he participated as guest in Labo#8 (composition workshop) in Belgium, led by Jean-Luc Fafchamps and Jean-Marc Sullon.
He was appointed Young Composer-In-Residence at the Casa da Música in 2010 and within this context three of his works were premiered: “Antologia do Tempo 1. Génese” by the Matosinhos String Quartet; "Antologia do Tempo 2. Ritual - fluxo contínuo" by the Remix Ensemble Casa da Música, under the direction of Peter Rundel (concert that celebrated the 10th anniversary of this ensemble) and "Antologia do Tempo 3. Apogeu" by the Porto Symphony Orchestra Casa da Música, conducted by Pedro Neves.
He was commissioned by the Banda Sinfónica Portuguesa (Portuguese Symphonic Band), Sond’Ar-te Electric Ensemble, MR SC & Wild Bones Gang, Yamaha Tuba Duo, Doppio Ensemble, among others. Besides Portugal, many of his works were premiered/executed in United States of America, Japan, China and Switzerland. He has works recorded on CD by Casa da Música (O Estado da Nação) and by Octavia Records Inc. (Yamaha Tuba Duo – Live in Japan).
He was member of the Jury of the Concurso de Composição Século XXI organized by the Escola Profissional de Música and Academia de Música de Viana do Castelo and member of the Jury for the Second Edition of the Concurso Nacional de Composição Banda Sinfónica Portuguesa (Composition Contests).
Parallel to his work as a composer, he works as a teacher (Musical Theory, Musical Analysis and Musical Composition). He also composes for theatre, film and writes arrangements and orchestrations for different instrumental groups.