Michael Dow, David Meade, Harold "Bud" McCormick and Andrew "Andy" Veiss have joined the staff of the Spirit of Newark for the 2003 season.

Meade will be the front ensemble educator for the 2003 season. He was a member of the 1978 DCI champion Santa Clara Vanguard. He was also a member of the SCV percussion ensemble, which won consecutive DCI championships in 1978 and 1979. Last summer, Meade performed with the Santa Clara alumni corps at DCI championships in Madison, Wis. He was the member of the front ensemble wearing the fake nose and moustache.

Meade received a degree in jazz performance from San Jose State University, and a master's degree in jazz performance from the Manhattan School of Music. Meade is currently a music educator with the NYC Board of Education specializing in Afro-Cuban, Dominican and Brazilian percussion styles. He is also a member of the adjunct faculty for the New School University in New York City; the University of Bridgeport, in Conn.; and New York University, also in New York City. Meade is also an award-winning Scottish Pipe Band drummer, and a professional drum set artist in New York City. He currently leads his trio, Primary Colours, in concerts all over the East Coast.Meade has toured with Aretha Franklin, Bobby McFerrin, Larry Coryell and Leslie Uggams. He resides in Manhattan with his wife, Kala, and their daughter, Sage.

Harold "Bud" McCormick will be the Spirit of Newark's brass arranger for the 2003 season. He began his drum corps career in the 1960s, and has won championships with both the Santa Clara Vanguard and Reading Buccaneers. He is listed in the "Drum Corps History Book" as the first person to win both a DCI and DCA championship.

McCormick also served as brass instructor with the Hawthorne Caballeros in 1998, and has been an adjudicator with DCA since 1994. He received a degree in music education from Kean University. McCormick is currently the band director at Jackson Memorial High School in New Jersey, a position he has held for the last 20 years. He resides in Bradley Beach, N.J., with his wife, Patti, and their children B.J., Tim, Caroline and Cecilia.Andrew "Andy" Veiss will be the Spirit of Newark's front ensemble arranger for the 2003 season.Veiss was a member of the Hawthorne Caballeros and Bushwackers. He also served as anarranger for the New York Skyliners in 1997.Veiss received a degree in music education from William Paterson University. He is currently a music educator at South Plainfield (N.J.) Middle School, and serves as the assistant band director at both Montville Township and Ramapo High Schools.

Under Veiss' leadership, Ramapo won best percussion in the United States' Scholastic Band Association's Group 2A in 2001. He also led Montville to Best Percussion in the United States' Scholastic Band Association's Group 1A in 2002Veiss resides in Union, N.J., with his wife, Betsey, and their two very outgoing cats.

Michael Dow will be the Spirit of Newark's battery educator for the 2003 season. Dow is entering his third year as a member of the Crossmen. In 2002, Dow was a member of the Jackson (N.J.) Memorial High School percussion staff.

Dow is currently pursuing a degree in computer engineering, with a minor in music, at Rutgers University. Dow is also a member of the Scarlet Knight marching band under the tutelage of DCI Hall of Fame member Dennis Delucia.

The Spirit of Newark's next camp to be held from March 8 to March 9, 2003, at the National Guard Armory in Newark, N.J. For additional information about the Spirit of Newark go to www.spiritofnewark.org, or contact Glenn Eng at 908.925.1172.