USC professor of music editing in film passes away


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Kenneth Hall, a USC School of Cinematic Arts professor and the Ken Wannberg Endowed Chair in Music Editing, passed away on the night of Aug. 25.

Hall joined the faculty in 2005. He taught and oversaw many classes on sound, including CTPR 473, “Directing the Composer.” Students, most of whom have no musical background, learned the fundamentals of film music in the popular class.

According to a recent press release from the School of Cinematic Arts, his class had such a close-knit community that alumni of the class would come back every year for a reunion.

Hall edited over 950 TV productions and films during his career, including E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial and Mulan. He received two Gold Records for his work on these two films.

In addition, he was nominated for the Motion Picture Sound Editors Golden Reel Award for seven films: First Knight, L.A. Confidential, Executive Decision, Mr. Baseball, The Ghost & the Darkness, Star Trek: First Contact and Mulan. Many of the films went on to be nominated for and win Oscars.

Hall worked with distinguished film composers, including John Williams, Jerry Goldsmith, Alex North, Henry Mancini, John Barry, Bill Conti, Maurice Jarre, Lalo Schifrin, Marvin Hamlisch, Lionel Newman and Miklos Rozsa.

He brought his passion to the classroom and was loved by all who worked with him each day.

“Ken was beloved by all of us — students, faculty and staff. He will be deeply missed as an artist, a teacher and a friend,” SCA Dean Elizabeth M. Daley said in the press release. “Ken brought an incredible passion and sense of fun to the classroom and his love of teaching touched the lives of countless graduates. Our thoughts are with his family.”