Mr. Rex Rukavina holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Instrumental Music Education from the University of Wisconsin-Parkside where he studied saxophone and clarinet with Dr. Timothy Bell. He also holds a Master of Science Degree in Eduational Administration and Supervision from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. Rex previously taught at Gilmore Middle School and became Director of Bands at Mitchell in 1994. During his tenure at Mitchell the Symphony Band has travelled to Gurnee, Illinois; St. Louis, Missouri; Minneapolis, Minnesota; Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Williamsburg, Virginia; Atlanta, Georgia and will be performing at the Heritage Music Festival in Dallas, Texas in April of 2002. Rex is the director of the Lighthouse Brigade Marching Band and has previously served as Junior Brigade director and Senior Brigade visual designer. He has also designed visual programs for marching bands in Wisconsin, Illinois, Tennessee, and Florida. Rex was a marching member of the Phantom Regiment Drum and Bugle Corps from Rockford/Loves Park, Illinois and received the Phantom Regiment Achievement Award in 1985. He studied drill design with DCI Hall of Fame inductee - the late John Brazale. Rex has been a private woodwind teacher since 1984 and is listed in the 1998 edition of "Who's Who Among America's Teachers". Rex has performed with Arturo Sandavol, Ed Schassanusy, Dave Sammuels, Steve Houghton, Allen Visutti, the Kenosha Pops Band, the Racine Symphony Orchestra, the Bill Sargent Big Band, and the Ralph Berger Orchestra of Chicago. He is a member of Music Educator's National Conference, National Association of Jazz Educators, Racine Band Boosters, Phantom Regiment Booster Club, and the Phantom Regiment Alumni Association.