Michael J. Bragman Athletic Complex
The CNS Northstars Marching Band calls the Michael J. Bragman Athletic Complex home. Host to numerous local, sectional and state athletic competitions, Michael J. Bragman Stadium is one of the finest high school athletic facilities in New York State.
The CNS Northstars Marching Band was formed in 1982 when Cicero High School (Golden Eagles) and North Syracuse High School (Northmen) merged to form Cicero-North Syracuse High School (Northstars).
In 1972, Robert Codner, the director of the Cicero Golden Eagles and Burt Dunlap, the director of the North Syracuse Northmen joined four other high school marching bands to found the New York State Field Band Conference. The Cicero and North Syracuse marching bands have been competing and performing locally and nationally for over 50 years.
Today, the Northstars marching band is under the direction of Ms. Karen Seamans and consists of over 100 members from grades 7 through 12. In 2016, the Northstars participated in the NYC St. Patrick’s Day parade, took 1st place in the Large School 2 division of the New York State Field Band Conference, and swept the competition at the TaxSlayer Bowl Contest of Champions in Jacksonville, Florida.
In 2017, the Northstars again took 1st place in the Large School 2 division of the New York State Field Band Conference to become “Back to Back” champions. The Northstars finished their 2017 competitive season in Allentown, PA as the US Bands Class VA National Champions!! And in 2018, the Northstars marked their return to the NYSFBC National Class with a 2nd place finish in the NYSFBC Championships followed by a trip to the 92nd Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade! In 2019 the band won 4th place in the Nationals, and place in 2nd in 2021.
Past Achievements
1982: New York State Field Band Conference Championship Open Class, 2nd Place
1983: New York State Field Band Conference Championship Open Class, 2nd Place
1984: New York State Field Band Conference Championship Open Class, 3rd Place
1985: New York State Field Band Conference Championship AA Open Class, 3rd Place
1986: New York State Field Band Conference Championship AA Open Class, 2nd Place
1986: Bowl Games Of America, Citrus Bowl National Champions
1987: New York State Field Band Conference AA Open Class State Champions
1987: Bands Of America Class AAA National Champions
1988: New York State Field Band Conference Championship AA Open Class, 3rd Place
1988: Bands Of America Grand Nationals 2nd Place
1989: Bowl Games of America, Holiday Bowl National Champions
1989: New York State Field Band Conference Championship National Class, 2nd Place
1990: Tournament of Roses Parade: Pasadena, California
1990: New York State Field Band Conference Championship National Class, 2nd Place
1990: Mount Vernon Festival of Bands, Mt Vernon, Va., 2nd place
1991: Norwin Band Festival, North Huntington, PA, 2nd place
1993: Bowl Games of America, Gator Bowl National Champions
1994: New England Scholastic Band Association Champions, Cranston, RI.
New England Scholastic Band Association Champions, Norwood, Mass.
1995: Mount Vernon Festival of Bands, Mt. Vernon, Va., Grand Champions
1996: Vanderbilt Marching Invitational, Nashville, Tenn. Superior Rating, 3rd place
1997: NCAA Kick Off Classic, New Jersey, New York State High School Representatives. Maine Band Directors Association: Twin Cities Marching Band Competition, Auburn, Maine, 1st Place. All Caption awards CMBC Boston Regional, Easton Mass, 2nd place
1998: Bands Of America Regional Finalists, Hofstra, NY, 7th place
1999: Bands of America Regional Finalists, Hofstra, NY, 5th place
2000: Old English Festival of Bands, Rock Hill South Carolina, Grand Champions Best Music, Best Visual, Best Percussion, Best Auxiliary
2001: USSBA New England Regional Champions, Best percussion, best music, best visual, best auxiliary
2002: New York State Field Band Conference Championship National Class, 3rd Place
2002: WGI Friendship Cup Class AAA Champions High Music, High Percussion, High General Effect, High Visual, 2nd place in finals
2003: Bands of America Regional, Massillon Ohio, Participant
2002: New York State Field Band Conference Championship National Class, 3rd Place
2004: Bands of America Grand Nationals, Indianapolis,Indiana, Participant, top 1/3 finish of almost 100 bands.
2005: Baltimore Bands of America ** RAINED OUT **
2006: USSBA Yamaha Cup, Giant’s Stadium, 3rd place
2007: USSBA National Championships, Baltimore, MD, 6th place
2008: USSBA Super Saturday, Dartmouth High School (MA), 2nd place and New Bedford High School (MA), 1st place
2009: Bands of America Regional Finalists, West Chester, PA., 10th place (Finals rained out)
2010: USSBA National Championships, Annapolis, MD. Navy Marine Corps Stadium, 5th Place out of 20
2011: USSBA National Championships, Annapolis, MD. Navy Marine Corps Stadium, 6th Place out of 20
2012: US Bands National Championships, East Rutherford, NJ. Metlife Stadium, 10th Place
2013: US Bands National Championships, East Rutherford, NJ. Metlife Stadium, 8th Place
2014: US Bands National Championships, Annapolis, MD. Navy Marine Corps Stadium, 11th Place out of 31
2015: New York State Field Band Conference Championship Large School 2 Class, 2nd Place
2016: 255th Annual NYC St. Patrick’s Day Parade, Participant
2016: New York State Field Band Conference Championship Large School 2 Class State Champions
2016: Taxslayer Bowl Contest of Champions, Field Show Champions, 1st Place AA Class, Outstanding Music AA Class, Outstanding Percussion AA Class, Outstanding Marching AA Class, Outstanding Auxiliary AA Class, Outstanding General Effect AA Class and Outstanding Drum Major AA Class
2017: New York State Field Band Conference Championship Large School 2 Class State Champions
2017: US Bands National Championships, Allentown, PA. J. Birney Crum Stadium, Class VA National Champions, Outstanding Visual
2018: New York State Field Band Conference Championship National Class, 2nd Place
2018: 92nd Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, Participant
2019: Bands of America Mid-Atlantic Regional Championship, College Park, MD, 8th Place, Outstanding Music Class 4A
2021: New York State Field Band Conference Championship National Class, 2nd Place
Northstar Drum Majors
1982: David Bills / Karen Degroot
1983: Jeff DeAngelo
1984: Jeff DeAngelo
1985: Brian Kesel
1986: Todd Hilt / Coleen Daley
1987: Todd Hilt / Coleen Daley
1988: Scott Bullock / Amy Mehnert
1989: Amy Mehnert / Lisa Giamari
1990: Lisa Giamari / Karen Seamans
1991: Karen Seamans / Andrea Haar
1992: Andrea Haar / Heather O’Brien
1993: Heather O’Brien / Becky Gay
1994: Becky Gay / Cheryl James
1995: Cheryl James / Tim Chermak
1996: Tim Chermak / Sarah Markle
1997: Sarah Markle / Chris Green
1998: Chris Green / Diane Tschudi
1999: Diane Tschudi / Bryon Lutz
2000: Bryon Lutz / Heather Szuba
2001: Heather Szuba / Meg Cullen
2002: Meg Cullen / Niki Baerman
2003: Niki Baerman / Carrie Williams
2004: Carrie Williams / Jackie Lillis
2005: Jackie Lillis / Eric Maine
2006: Eric Maine / No Jr. Drum Major
2007: Kerry Stach / Jamie Jaquay
2008: Jamie Jaquay / Abigail Marchese
2009: Abigail Marchese / Jordan Briscoe
2010: Jordan Briscoe / Cassandra Walters
2011: Cassandra Walters / Kaitlyn Rude
2012: Kaitlyn Rude / Chad Jones
2013: Chad Jones / Noah Jones
2014: Noah Jones / Anna Hess
2015: Anna Hess / Stephen Schermerhorn
2016: Stephen Schermerhorn / Hal Meyer
2017: Hal Meyer / Aidan Blaylock
2018: Aidan Blaylock / Emily Hogan
2019: Emily Hogan / Sam Ridgeway
2020: Sam Ridgeway / Braeden Rogers
2021 & 2022 – Aaron Czarniewicz/ Yujin Lee
Past Directors
Cicero High School Golden Eagles
– Robert Codner (Founding member of the NYS Field Band Conference – 1972)
North Syracuse High School Northmen
– Burt Dunlap (Founding member of the NYS Field Band Conference – 1972)
Cicero-North Syracuse High School
– In 1982, Cicero High School and North Syracuse High School merge to form
Cicero-North Syracuse Northstars
1982: J. David LeBlanc (First Northstars Marching Band)
1983: Robert Codner
1984 – 1990: Ray Elwood
1991 – 2012: Anthony Maio
2013 – Present: Karen Seamans