Education
Eduard completed his primary schooling in his native town, and then at the Gymnasium in Bielitz. Following his matriculation on September 28, 1892, he began to study medicine in Vienna, but he soon realized that was not what he wanted and transferred to the High Royal Technical School in Dresden, where he graduated as a chemical engineer on March 25, 1898.
He completed his dissertation in the field of organic chemistry. At that time Penkala spoke, read and wrote German, Slovakian, Polish Hungarian, and had a working knowledge of French.
In the course of his studies he also attended violin lessons, where was to meet his future wife, pianist Emilia Stoffregen.
Love for the beauty of the human voice and instrumental music brought together the young Penkala and Emilia, a student at the Academy of Music at the Semper Opera in Dresden. Penkala himself was exceptionally gifted musically, although only as an amateur any instrument he took up he mastered successfully and played very well.
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