Pennario, Leonard

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Pennario, Leonard

Pennario, Leonard, brilliant American pianist; b. Buffalo, July 9, 1924. He received instruction from Guy Maier, Isabelle Vengerova, and Olga Steeb (piano) and Ernst Toch (composition). He played in public at 7, and made his formal debut as soloist in the Grieg Concerto with the Dallas Sym. Orch. when he was 12. He made his Carnegie Hall debut as soloist in Liszt’s 1st Concerto with the N.Y. Phil (Nov. 17, 1943), toured Europe for the first time (1952), and subsequently appeared throughout the world. He played chamber music with Heifetz and Piatigorsky; was active as a teacher.

—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kaun/Dennis McIntire

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