And the winner is...

An appreciative cohort of air guitar supporters turned out last night for the Second Annual Syracuse Air Guitar competition. A few familiar faces were back in the artistically blended, fog-bedecked spotlights: Ken Keech, last year's second-place finisher as Satan's Closet, was our host for the evening, and Cornelius Airelius astounded the audience once again with a one-minute meditation on the meaning of power chords.

It was a dramatic, close, and hard-fought battle to the finish. But ultimately, it was one of the five newcomers to competitive air guitar that would triumph: Brianna Ruth, tied with Cornelius after the first round, vaulted to first place in the compulsories. She will go on to represent her adopted home of Syracuse in the US air guitar regional competition this summer.

But she needs your help, readers!! Who can come up with the best air name for our hairoine? Post your suggestions here!

Thanks again to our host and celebrity judges. Also to The Sound Garden and Wings Over Syracuse for the prizes and food, and to SU's Office of the Chancellor, Arts Adventure Learning Community, and Department of Art & Music Histories in the College of Arts & Sciences for sponsoring the event.

Final places and composite scores:

1. Brianna Ruth (34.7)
2. Cornelius Airelius (34.5)
3. C-Rap (34.0)
4. Tony Airommi (33.9)
5. Tallahassee Montana (33.7)
6. Jello B. Pudding (33.6)