William Rankin
Band Director
William Rankin earned his Bachelor's Degree in Music Education from James Madison University in Harrisonburg, VA in 2009. At JMU Mr. Rankin was an active member of the music community, performing with the James Madison University Marching Royal Dukes (website) where he was a section leader and drill instructor for 2 years. In 2008, the Marching Royal Dukes performed in New York City for the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. Mr. Rankin was also a consistent performer with the JMU Pep Band (hooo!), playing saxophone most of the time and trumpet some of the time. With the Pep Band Mr. Rankin played at all JMU Basketball home games, and all Coloniel Athletic Association and NCAA Tournament games. Mr. Rankin was also a member of several saxophone quartets and all of the JMU wind ensembles, including the JMU Concert Band, the JMU Symphonic Band and the JMU Wind Symphony, playing soprano, alto, and baritone saxophones. He played tenor saxophone with the JMU Jazz Band for one semester.
After graduating from James Madison University Mr. Rankin began his career as Director of Concert and Athletic Bands at James Breckinridge Middle School, in Roanoke, Virginia. In the fall he was on staff with the William Fleming High School marching band, and in April 2011, he directed the JBMS Concert Band for their first ever music assessment performance.
The next year, Mr. Rankin relocated to Kissimmee, Florida to begin his tenure at Imagine Kissimmee Charter Academy (IKCA) in Kissimmee, FL, as the Kindergarten - 8th grade Music Teacher. Mr. Rankin was very proud to be the Music Director of the IKCA Drama Club for their productions of Annie, Jr., Seussical, Jr., and The Little Mermaid, Jr., as well as helping the club with their production of Legally Blonde, Jr. by painting and building sets with his "tools and stuff." He was responsible for several concerts and music programs throughout the school, as well as the writer/arranger/director of several non-traditional musical ensembles. The first of these unnamed ensembles was a class of 8th grade students who performed using various classroom and home items, including garbage cans, volleyballs, kitchen utensils, and a group of girls who called themselves "The Pill Poppers," who played with varying setups of prescription pill bottles. The second of these ensembles were classes of 7th and 8th grade students who learned the fundamentals of corps-style marching and drill, and marched to recordings of music in the style of a competitive marching band's halftime show. The music and drill was written and arranged by Mr. Rankin himself, and the program was very successful. When he was not doing all of that, Mr. Rankin coached the cross country track team and the first ever IKCA Boys Volleyball team, for one season each.
Throughout all of college and all of Mr. Rankin's professional career, he was a staff member for the South Fort Myers High School Wolfpack Band, under the direction of Mr. John Ash, as their marching and visual technician. He later became a staff member for the Crystal River High School Golden Pirate Band, also under the direction of Mr. John Ash, and was a staff member with the band for six years. He is currently the very proud and busy Band Director for the Crystal River High School Band program, and intends to continue a standard of excellence and achievement and a tradition of success with all aspects of the band program, including the Golden Pirate Marching Band, the Crystal River High School Concert Band, and the spring-time Crystal River High School Jazz Band. Mr. Rankin hopes to create never-before-seen ensembles throughout the school, including an athletic Pep Band, to continue to support the CRHS Athletics department.
Mr. Rankin is an active member of the Florida Music Educators Association and the Florida Bandmasters Association.
He was married on October 18, 2014, and loves his wife very much. Their first child arrives in August 2016.
Band Director
William Rankin earned his Bachelor's Degree in Music Education from James Madison University in Harrisonburg, VA in 2009. At JMU Mr. Rankin was an active member of the music community, performing with the James Madison University Marching Royal Dukes (website) where he was a section leader and drill instructor for 2 years. In 2008, the Marching Royal Dukes performed in New York City for the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. Mr. Rankin was also a consistent performer with the JMU Pep Band (hooo!), playing saxophone most of the time and trumpet some of the time. With the Pep Band Mr. Rankin played at all JMU Basketball home games, and all Coloniel Athletic Association and NCAA Tournament games. Mr. Rankin was also a member of several saxophone quartets and all of the JMU wind ensembles, including the JMU Concert Band, the JMU Symphonic Band and the JMU Wind Symphony, playing soprano, alto, and baritone saxophones. He played tenor saxophone with the JMU Jazz Band for one semester.
After graduating from James Madison University Mr. Rankin began his career as Director of Concert and Athletic Bands at James Breckinridge Middle School, in Roanoke, Virginia. In the fall he was on staff with the William Fleming High School marching band, and in April 2011, he directed the JBMS Concert Band for their first ever music assessment performance.
The next year, Mr. Rankin relocated to Kissimmee, Florida to begin his tenure at Imagine Kissimmee Charter Academy (IKCA) in Kissimmee, FL, as the Kindergarten - 8th grade Music Teacher. Mr. Rankin was very proud to be the Music Director of the IKCA Drama Club for their productions of Annie, Jr., Seussical, Jr., and The Little Mermaid, Jr., as well as helping the club with their production of Legally Blonde, Jr. by painting and building sets with his "tools and stuff." He was responsible for several concerts and music programs throughout the school, as well as the writer/arranger/director of several non-traditional musical ensembles. The first of these unnamed ensembles was a class of 8th grade students who performed using various classroom and home items, including garbage cans, volleyballs, kitchen utensils, and a group of girls who called themselves "The Pill Poppers," who played with varying setups of prescription pill bottles. The second of these ensembles were classes of 7th and 8th grade students who learned the fundamentals of corps-style marching and drill, and marched to recordings of music in the style of a competitive marching band's halftime show. The music and drill was written and arranged by Mr. Rankin himself, and the program was very successful. When he was not doing all of that, Mr. Rankin coached the cross country track team and the first ever IKCA Boys Volleyball team, for one season each.
Throughout all of college and all of Mr. Rankin's professional career, he was a staff member for the South Fort Myers High School Wolfpack Band, under the direction of Mr. John Ash, as their marching and visual technician. He later became a staff member for the Crystal River High School Golden Pirate Band, also under the direction of Mr. John Ash, and was a staff member with the band for six years. He is currently the very proud and busy Band Director for the Crystal River High School Band program, and intends to continue a standard of excellence and achievement and a tradition of success with all aspects of the band program, including the Golden Pirate Marching Band, the Crystal River High School Concert Band, and the spring-time Crystal River High School Jazz Band. Mr. Rankin hopes to create never-before-seen ensembles throughout the school, including an athletic Pep Band, to continue to support the CRHS Athletics department.
Mr. Rankin is an active member of the Florida Music Educators Association and the Florida Bandmasters Association.
He was married on October 18, 2014, and loves his wife very much. Their first child arrives in August 2016.
Andrea Rankin
Pirate Band Assistant Director
Andrea Rankin earned her Bachelors of Science in Early Childhood Education from James Madison University in 2011. At the University she was an active member of the Marching Royal Dukes, James Madison Concert Band and the JMU Pep Band on Trumpet. She also became a member of Sigma Alpha Iota, an all women’s music fraternity. Through Sigma Alpha Iota, Mrs. Rankin became an advocate for music in the school systems and communities. In Sigma Alpha Iota she ran the joint chorus with Phi Mu Alpha and created several fundraising events including a Musical Petting Zoo and. Before attending James Madison University, Mrs. Rankin played trumpet in Middle and High School and was Drum Major her senior year.
After moving to Kissimmee with her husband, she started her teaching career as a first grade teacher. Music continued to be a large part in her life, as she could constantly be found helping with the Music and Dance Teachers at her school with rehearsals and performances, and incorporating music anywhere in the classroom she could.
Once in Crystal River, Mrs. Rankin continued teaching first grade and helping with the Crystal River Marching Band at after school rehearsal and performances. She is now the Pre-School teacher at Crystal River Primary School.
Mr. and Mrs. Rankin are expecting their first child in August of 2016.
Pirate Band Assistant Director
Andrea Rankin earned her Bachelors of Science in Early Childhood Education from James Madison University in 2011. At the University she was an active member of the Marching Royal Dukes, James Madison Concert Band and the JMU Pep Band on Trumpet. She also became a member of Sigma Alpha Iota, an all women’s music fraternity. Through Sigma Alpha Iota, Mrs. Rankin became an advocate for music in the school systems and communities. In Sigma Alpha Iota she ran the joint chorus with Phi Mu Alpha and created several fundraising events including a Musical Petting Zoo and. Before attending James Madison University, Mrs. Rankin played trumpet in Middle and High School and was Drum Major her senior year.
After moving to Kissimmee with her husband, she started her teaching career as a first grade teacher. Music continued to be a large part in her life, as she could constantly be found helping with the Music and Dance Teachers at her school with rehearsals and performances, and incorporating music anywhere in the classroom she could.
Once in Crystal River, Mrs. Rankin continued teaching first grade and helping with the Crystal River Marching Band at after school rehearsal and performances. She is now the Pre-School teacher at Crystal River Primary School.
Mr. and Mrs. Rankin are expecting their first child in August of 2016.
Tiffany Grabarz
Pirate Band Colorguard Director
Bio coming soon!!!
Pirate Band Colorguard Director
Bio coming soon!!!
John D. Ash
Golden Pirate Band Assistant Music and Drill Designer
John Ash was the Band Director at Crystal River High School for six years. Prior to his tenure at CRHS, he was the band director at S. Fort Myers High School, in Ft. Myers, FL, as well as the band director for Lakeland High School in Suffolk, VA and Lebanon High School in Lebanon, TN. In the 2014 season, Mr. Ash was essential to the creation, arranging, and teaching of the Golden Pirate Marching Band field show, "No Drama, Only Rock." He was responsible for choosing most of the repertoire, and was very, VERY helpful in the writing of the show's drill. He also served as the Band's announcer for their first live performances of the 2014 season. He was very helpful in writing the drill for the band's 2015 Show, "Hero/Villain."
Mr. Ash is in his first year as Associate Professor of Music at the College of Central Florida Ocala Campus, where he teaches music theory, conducting lessons, and directs the wind ensemble. He owns and operates D&J Fresh Fruit Fundraising, which will work very closely with the CRHS Band program in the next and coming years.
Golden Pirate Band Assistant Music and Drill Designer
John Ash was the Band Director at Crystal River High School for six years. Prior to his tenure at CRHS, he was the band director at S. Fort Myers High School, in Ft. Myers, FL, as well as the band director for Lakeland High School in Suffolk, VA and Lebanon High School in Lebanon, TN. In the 2014 season, Mr. Ash was essential to the creation, arranging, and teaching of the Golden Pirate Marching Band field show, "No Drama, Only Rock." He was responsible for choosing most of the repertoire, and was very, VERY helpful in the writing of the show's drill. He also served as the Band's announcer for their first live performances of the 2014 season. He was very helpful in writing the drill for the band's 2015 Show, "Hero/Villain."
Mr. Ash is in his first year as Associate Professor of Music at the College of Central Florida Ocala Campus, where he teaches music theory, conducting lessons, and directs the wind ensemble. He owns and operates D&J Fresh Fruit Fundraising, which will work very closely with the CRHS Band program in the next and coming years.