Leonard Bernstein, an icon of 20th-century classical music, was born on August 25, 1918, in Lawrence, Massachusetts, USA. His birth name was Louis Bernstein, but he later adopted the name Leonard. From a young age, Bernstein displayed a remarkable talent for music, mastering the piano at a tender age and showing an innate understanding of harmony and melody.
Bernstein's formal musical education began at Harvard University, where he studied music theory with renowned composer Walter Piston. He continued his studies at the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia, where he received training in conducting under the guidance of Fritz Reiner and composition with Randall Thompson. Despite his classical training, Bernstein was deeply influenced by jazz and other contemporary musical styles, which would later manifest in his compositions.