In Los Angeles, Panaro has participated in “Reprise!” concert performances of Merry We Roll Along, Gentlemen Prefer Blonds and Call Me Madam, for which he received an “Ovation” nomination. At the Kennedy Center, he portrayed Anthony Hope in Sweeney Todd and participated in “The Stephen Sondheim Gala.” At Avery Fischer Hall in New York City, he performed in Jerry Herman’s Mack and Mabel.

An active concert artist, Panaro has performed with numerous symphony orchestras including the Dallas, Detroit, San Francisco, Seattle, San Diego, Houston, Calgary, Utah and the London Sinfonietta among many others and had the privilege of performing in the world premiere of Penderecki’s Te Deum at Carnegie Hall. Panaro was a guest soloist with the Buffalo Philharmonic, conducted by Marvin Hamlisch. His recordings include Jerome Kern Treasury, the original cast recording of Side Show, Tap Your Troubles Away (Herman), The Centennial (Weil) and Life on the Wicked Stage (Kern), among others. His first solo CD, recorded with Sony/BMG, was released in summer 2007. Panaro toured throughout Europe with the legendary Barbra Streisand. He performed the role of Jean Valjean in Les Miserables in Philadelphia.

A native of Philadelphia, Panaro graduated from Temple University and was awarded the Boyer College of Music Certificate of Honor for his impressive career in musical theatre.

The American dream came true for Catalina Popescu in October of 1986 when she and her husband Bob created a supper club devoted to serving an experience of superb eats and the shared magic of live performance. That grand experience began at the door where every night her mother Maria would greet each guest as family and share in their love of music. Housed in Hollywood and decked out in a timeless charm, the club offers a cozy ambience under sparkling stage lights garnished with its signature concoction — Jazz. The first artist to grace the stage was the masterful flutist and saxophonist Buddy Collette, and ever since then, over the past 36 years, the Catalina Jazz Club has hosted the most illustrious legends of all time — from the powerful puffers of Dizzy Gillespie to the electrified fingers of McCoy Tyner, the bubbly belt of Dee Dee Bridgewater and Lynda Carter, the flirtatious saxophone of Joshua Redman, the slick strumming of Kenny Burrell, the insane drum clinic of Steve Gadd, the romance of Steve Tyrell, and the masterclass of Mike Stern.

For Catalina, Jazz is our way of life. It breathes pain. It knows love. It dreams hope. It bleeds courage. Whether we’re showcasing Broadway, Soul, R&B, or stand-up comedy, the lesson learned from all the greats who have serenaded our spirits is how to connect to one another. And that’s why the Catalina Jazz Club will always have a table ready for you.

The Catalina Jazz Club has been honored by A.S.M.A.C., California Jazz Foundation, Los Angeles Jazz Society, and a City of Los Angeles Certificate of Appreciation on their 25th Anniversary, which was awarded by Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and the LA City Council which included then City Council member and current Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti.