Lee Auer - Director of Bands​ - Mr. Auer has served as Director of Bands at Newark High School since 2016. Prior to his appointment at Newark High School, he served as band director at Heritage Middle School from 2014-2016, and Valley Local Schools in Lucasville, Ohio from 2007-2014. 

Mr. Auer enjoys performing regularly with the Heisey Wind Ensemble, and is also a member of the ensemble's Board of Directors. Mr. Auer is also serving as OMEA District 10 President.

​Prior to his teaching career, Mr. Auer graduated from Licking Heights High School and earned a Bachelor of Music Education Degree from The Ohio State University. While attending Ohio State, Mr. Auer performed in the symphonic band, wind symphony, and was a five-year member of the marching band.
Noah Jenkins - Assistant Director, Percussion Instructor, Sound Engineer - Mr. Jenkins graduated from Newark High School in 2017. He currently attends The Ohio State University and is studying to be a commercial pilot within the Air Transportation major.

Mr. Jenkins performs as a member of the percussion section in the Heisey Wind Ensemble. This is Noah’s 5th season working with the Pride of Newark as a percussion instructor.
Tyler King - Assistant Director, Liberty Middle School Director - ​Mr. King is currently the band director at Liberty Middle School. Last year, he served as the band director at Wilson Middle School (2021-2022).  Prior to his tenure at Newark City Schools, Mr. King served for 9 years as band director for grades 5-12 at Northridge Local Schools in Johnstown, Ohio.

Mr. King performs regularly with the Heisey Wind Ensemble in the trumpet section. He graduated from Tri-Valley High School and earned both Bachelor of Music Education and Master of Music Education Degrees from The Ohio State University.  While attending Ohio State, Mr. King performed with the symphonic band, wind symphony, jazz ensemble, and the marching band. Additionally, he served as Graduate Assistant Director of marching and athletic bands from 2007-2009.
Courtney Larkin - Assistant Director, Wilson Middle School Director - ​Ms. Larkin is currently the director of bands at Wilson Middle School. Prior to her time at Newark, she served as the Visual Director & Coordinator for the Westerville South HS Marching Band from 2019-2021.

Ms. Larkin graduated from Central Crossing High School and earned a Bachelor of Music Education at The Ohio State University, studying the saxophone.

During her time at Ohio State, Ms. Larkin also spent her summers marching DCI. She was a member of the Colts Drum & Bugle Corps in 2018 as a baritone player, as well as a member of The Bluecoats in 2019 as a euphonium player.​
Kevin Ruppert - Assistant Director, Heritage Middle School Director - ​Mr. Ruppert is currently the director of bands at Heritage Middle School. This year will mark his second year of teaching. Before coming to Newark, Mr. Ruppert served as the director of choirs at Garfield Middle School in Hamilton, Ohio.

Mr. Ruppert graduated from The Ohio State University in 2021 with a degree in Music Education. While enrolled, he was a member of the saxophone studio, the Men’s Glee Club, as well as the Symphonic Band and Wind Symphony.
Tom Shook - Assistant Director, Show Design - Mr. Shook earned his Bachelor of Music degree in Education from The Ohio State University. He is the retired band director from Licking Heights High School.

Mr. Shook performs with the West High School Alumni Jazz Band, Heisey Wind Ensemble, and the Sharyonim Choir at Temple Beth Shalom.

He continues to substitute teach in several local school districts and teaches private clarinet and saxophone lessons. He and his wife Terry live in Pataskala and spend much of their time with his four grandchildren.​
Diana Wightman - Assistant Director​ - Ms. Wightman is the former director at Liberty Middle School. 

Ms. Wightman graduated from Centerville High School and earned a Bachelor of Music Education degree from Bowling Green State University. She also spent two years in graduate studies at BGSU in Brass Pedagogy/Performance. She began her career at Chaminade-Julienne High School in Dayton.
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She served 11 years as event chair of the OMEA District 10 MS Honor Band and as District Secretary/Treasurer. She plays euphonium with the Heisey Wind Ensemble and trombone with the Heisey Wind Ensemble Big Band. Ms. Wightman is a member of Ohio Music Education Association and Phi Beta Mu International Bandmasters’ Fraternity. In 2016, she was selected as the Newark City Schools Teacher of the Year.