Leona May Smith (September 23, 1914 – December 1, 1999) was an American musician, a trumpeter and cornettist, based in New York City for most of her career.

[1] In 1929, still a teenager, Smith played first trumpet in the Boston Women's Symphony, with Ethel Leginska conducting.

[2] She was a soloist in the Radio City Music Hall Orchestra from 1943 to 1945, and was the first woman trumpeter in the Metropolitan Opera stage band, where she was engaged from 1960 to 1961.

[6][7] She also led her own ensemble, the Leona May Smith Dance Band,[8] and composed works, including "Mignon Fantasy" (performed in 1961).

[2] In 1993, Smith and two trombonists (Betty Glover and Melba Liston) were honored as Brasswomen Pioneers at the first International Women's Brass Conference, held in St.