The FDSH All-American Marching Band is slated to perform during halftime at the AutoZone Liberty Bowl in Memphis on Tuesday evening. The band, which regularly performs well at state marching band competitions, receives offers to perform at bowl games every year, FDSH Band Director Al Paulson said. The band takes a large bowl game trip every four years.

“We get offers all the time,” he said. “The band has done well in contests and our reputation is out there, so we get invited.”

The band will pack up and leave Fort Dodge at 5 a.m. on Sunday to head to Tennessee.

The band’s performances will kick off on Monday afternoon with the Beale Street Parade. During the parade, the band will be playing tunes from its fall show, “Moulin Rouge.”

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Fort Dodge Senior High’s Abby Meyer performs a solo during the Iowa High School Music Association State Marching Band Festival in October inside Dodger Stadium.

Then, on Tuesday evening, the FDSH Marching Band will join seven other high school marching bands to perform during halftime at the Liberty Bowl game between Mississippi State University and Texas Tech University.

“We’ve been working the last couple of weeks since our concert, getting ready for this,” Paulson said.

The band has been rehearsing the new tunes along with a recording from recording artist Jason D. Williams. They will have one opportunity to rehearse with the other bands prior to the performance on Tuesday, but Paulson feels his students are ready.

“They can play it in their sleep,” he said.

The trip will be more than just marching and music. The students will get to attend the Liberty Bowl Rodeo the night they arrive in Memphis. They will also go on a tour of Graceland and a tour of the University of Memphis, as well as get some shopping in.

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Members of the Fort Dodge Senior High marching band perform during the Iowa High School Music Association State Marching Band Festival Saturday at Dodger Stadium.

Paulson likes giving his students opportunities like these bowl game performances and parades.

“I think it’ll be great to perform with other bands and meet some other students,” he said. “They’re from all over the country.”

During Monday’s parade, the band will be performing in front of national judges, Paulson said.

“So we’ll see what they have to say about us,” he said.

A group of FDSH Orchestra students will also be making the trip and will have the opportunity to do a clinic with the University of Memphis orchestra director, Paulson added.

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Aaron Amhof, of Fort Dodge, plays a solo during “Tango De Roxanne!” during Iowa High School Music Association State Marching Band Festival in October at Dodger Stadium.

The band is scheduled to return to Fort Dodge on the evening of Dec. 30.