Leonard Pennario (July 9, 1924 – June 27, 2008) was an American classical pianist and composer.
He was born in Buffalo, New York, and grew up in Los Angeles, attending Los Angeles High School remaining in L.A. for his entire career. He first came to notice when he performed Edvard Grieg's Piano Concerto at age 12, with the Dallas Symphony Orchestra. The scheduled performer had fallen ill, and Pennario's piano playing had come to the attention of the conductor Eugene Goossens, who recommended him as the soloist after being assured by Pennario that he knew the work. In fact, he had never seen the music or even heard it, but he learned it in a week.[citation needed]
He studied with Guy Maier, Olga Steeb, and Isabelle Vengerova and attended the University of Southern California, where he stu
