Photo taken by Ebony Bailey.

He is very eager and determined to direct the Grizzly band. "I believe that the Grizzly Brigade Band and Guard will be one of the greatest music programs in California and in the nation," he said.

The new band director has a five year plan for the GHHS band that includes going to Hawaii in 2009, getting over 100 students in the band, participating at national festivals throughout the country, and attending nationally televised parades like the McDonalds Thanksgiving Day Parade and Pasadena Rose Bowl Parade.

He hopes to bring many new opportunities for the band, "I would like to create a tradition of musical excellence through activities such as marching and concert band, jazz band, winter guard and winter percussion, solo and small ensemble performances, and trips out of the state and to other countries." He has his own website that features information about the band such as the schedule, music, and pictures.

He has even brought new classes to the school, a guitar class and a mariachi class. “It’s amazing how Mr. Rexelle, being a band director, was willing to teach the mariachi class,” said Michael Smith, student musician who helped out with establishing the mariachi class.

Rexelle knew he wanted to work in the music industry in the eighth grade when he competed at a solo ensemble festival. "I have always wanted to be a band director since I was 12 years old and I could not imagine doing anything else," he said.

He started his music career on the saxophone in the fifth grade, and now he can play every wind and brass instrument. His primary instrument is the drums.

In high school, he was section leader in the drum line for marching and winter percussion since his freshman year. During concert season, he was section leader for the bass clarinets; he also played tenor sax in jazz band.

He earned his bachelor's degree in Music Education from California State University Stanislaus in Turlock, Calif., and his master's in education from National Univeristiy. He has been constructing marching and concert bands for the past 14 years, even though he has been a band director for only nine years.

The high school that he previously taught at was Santa Ana High School in Southern California, where he grew the program from 60 to over 130 members in the band. He came to Porterville for a safer and better school environment for his children. "In Santa Ana, there were a lot of gang problems and violence," he said. "Granite Hills is a great school with a wonderful caring principal and a district that really cares about their teachers."

His hobbies include playing is Playstation 2, listening to music, watching movies, writing music, and playing his instrument.

Rexelle has been married to his wife for 13 years. He loves playing with his four children Nicole, Brandon, Alex, and Samantha. "We do everything together as a family," he said. He and his family are very exited about his new job and their new home. "We love it here in Porterville already," said Rexelle