SYRACUSE - The Carrier Dome was haunted this weekend, and these ghouls made a whole lot of noise.

The Auburn Maroon Vanguard marching band competed in the New York State Field Band Conference championships Sunday afternoon. The band placed second, standing out with a haunted field routine that featured players dressed as the living dead instead of the typical military-style marching uniforms.

Skeletons played the drums, vampires twirled the flags and zombies tooted their horns. The routine featured such scary tunes as Bach's Toccata and Fugue in D Minor - a dark, recognizable piece often associated with organs and castle towers - and Michael Jackson's “Thriller.”

While the unconventional show was not enough for the Vanguard to top the 11 other bands in the large school division three class - Brentwood High beat them by 2.4 points - Director Ed Meier said he was pleased with the band's placement.

“The students peaked,” Meier said “We hope their best performance is their last, and that is the way it was today.”

Another local band participating Sunday at the dome was the Jordan-Elbridge Marching Eagles, which finished fourth in the small school division one class.

The Vanguard band, which is comprised of 125 students, has been performing atypical routines at the annual competition for a few years now.

Meier and the staff come up with a theme every year, and the band performs the same routine for its eight-week marching season.

Last year, they played a “rock show.” While the shows are fun to watch, they can also be a bit of a gamble.

“You never know how the judges are going to respond,” assistant band director Mike Miller said after the band finished its routine.

But, Miller added, it does make it a bit more fun for the students.

“We didn't have to sell this idea at all to any of them,” Miller said. “Everyone was on board from day one.”

The marching band is an extracurricular activity for Auburn High School students, and members practice outside of class three days a week to perfect their music and marching.

The state conference is their final and biggest competition of the season.

“Playing at the dome for us is like playing in the Super Bowl for football players,” said Aaron McCormick, 18, who plays electric bass guitar in the routine. “And all the bands in the state are playing here. It's a special spot to be in.”

Senior drum major Marissa Leone, 17, said the atmosphere at the Carrier Dome made the competition a lot more intense. Before they entered the arena, the whole band sat silently on the bus for 10 minutes just to concentrate. After that, Leone said she sang the entire routine with junior drum major Bryann Dusharm for practice.

The theatrical element of the routine helped to loosen Leone up.

“The costumes help you get more into the show,” said Leone, who wore a black and red gown with a large cape.

But not all the students were quite as fond of their costumes.

“I like that we get to choose our own hats,” said Preston Chaffee, 18, who plays the mellophone and wore a ship captain's hat. “But I hate the I have to wear. You sweat, and it builds up in there.”

Later in the day, the Jordan-Elbridge Marching Eagles took the field and put on a show of its own. The 76-piece band was led by interim director Jim A'Hearn, who described the competition as an “emotional” event.

A'Hearn retired as director five years ago, but was asked to lead the band this year when the position suddenly opened up.

“To get back into it for this year, with the kids and at the dome, it is real great for me.” A'Hearn said..

A'Hearn said the Eagles met his expectations even before the results were announced.

“They did an awesome job, and that's all I care about,” he said. “I just wanted them to do their best and have fun doing it, and they did that.”

For more information about the New York State Field Band Conference, or for results, visit www.nysfbc.org.

Staff writer Christopher Caskey can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 282 or christopher.caskey@lee.net.