About the Director

Mr Rants


Mr. Rants began his teaching career in 1994, but his knowledge of music education began much before that time. Growing up in the Seatac area, he learned much of his teaching techniques by watching his award winning father teach music at Tyee High School in the Highline School District.

Mr. Rants comes to Shelton from teaching 13 years directing at Marysville-Pilchuck High School. In addition he is the director MP's concert bands, jazz ensembles, percussion ensemble, choir, guitar and the director of the Marysville Alliance Competitive Marching Band. Prior to Marysville, Mr. Rants was the 6-12 Marysville School District Music Coordinator. Prior to Marysville, Mr. Rants taught the band programs at Lakewood, Highland and South Whidbey High Schools. In 2010, Mr. Rants was named the Seattle Symphony's Music Educator of the Year, an honor which has only been bestowed twice. Mr. Rants is a Past-President of the Mount Pilchuck Music Educators Association, where he has served the on the board for 8 years, 3 years of which he was the President of the region. Mr. Rants holds a Master's in Education Technology from City University, Bachelor's of Music from Western Washington University and an Associates of Arts degree from Whatcom Community College.

Mr. Rants' professional music career included being a professional sound and recording engineer, working with such artists as: Taylor Swift, John Fogerty, Robert Cray, Jackson Browne, The Gatlin Brothers, Dione Warwick, The Kingston Trio, Glenn Yarbourgh, and The Coats. working Mr. Rants is also a veteran of the US armed forces as he had served in the US Navy and Naval Reserves as an aviation electronics technician. His military training enabled him to become a factory authorized repair technician for Marshall Amplifiers, Peavey Electronics, and Yamaha Electronics.