Obituary: Regnal Hall

A memorial service for Regnal Hall, a longtime music and vocal teacher in Burbank who died Nov. 27, will be held Saturday in Glendale. He was 83.

His career in music began with playing in the Navy band from 1944 to 1946. He taught music in Burbank for 30 years as the instrumental teacher at Jordan Junior High from 1952-57, and as the vocal teacher at Burbank High School from 1958-82.

He was known for his creativity and his willingness to embrace diverse styles of music. He was the forerunner of the show choir genre by producing the “Pop ‘n Rockananny” series of shows that began in 1969 and continue to this day. He helped to establish the national Young Men in Harmony program with the first barbershop boys chorus in 1972.

He was a popular teacher who had at least one yearbook dedicated to him.

After “retiring” from Burbank High in 1983, he served as the orchestra contractor at Disney Studios until 1990. He started a chorus at Burbank’s continuation high school with Disney’s partnership. He also directed three church choirs in Burbank and composed sacred music for St. Mark’s Episcopal Church in Glendale for the better part of four decades.

He is survived by his sons Steve and Mark; daughter Leslie; and sister Joyce.

His memorial and a reception luncheon will be hosted at 11 a.m. Saturday at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, 1020 N. Brand Blvd.