Born in Chicago, IL. Started conducting on television in 1949 on "Fireball Fun-For-All." Worked on Sid Caesar's "Your Show of Shows" (1950), arranged the music for a TV version of "The Desert Song" (1955), conducted on "The Garry Moore Show" (1958), and orchestrated and supervised the music for WEST SIDE STORY (1961). Kostal then moved to Disney and composed for films: THE BLUE BIRD (1976) and MICKEY'S CHRISTMAS CAROL (1983, also conductor/arranger). Was conductor and/or music arranger for HALF A SIXPENCE (1967) and CHITTY CHITTY BANG BANG (1968). He continued to conduct for television. Kostal was named a Disney Legend in 2004.  Music Scoring Awards (Scoring of a Musical Picture) 1961: WEST SIDE STORY (w. Saul Chaplin, Johnny Green & Sid Ramin)  Nominated for Music Scoring Awards (Scoring of Music Adaptation or Treatment) 1964: MARY POPPINS  Music Scoring Awards (Scoring of Music Adaptation or Treatment) 1965: THE SOUND OF MUSIC  Nominated for Music Scoring Awards (Best Scoring: Adaptation and Original Song Score) 1971: BEDKNOBS AND BROOMSTICKS (w. Richard M. Sherman & Robert B. Sherman - Song Score)  Nominated for Music Scoring Awards (Best Original Song Score and Its Adaptation or Best Adaptation Score) 1977: PETE'S DRAGON (w. Al Kasha & Joel Hirschhorn - Song Score) 5 nominations, 2 Awards