The Marching Wolverines, of Union Grove High School, in McDonough, are rehearsing their parts in “Jazz Vocals: Then and Now,” for an upcoming performance at the Sugar Bowl in New Orleans, on Jan. 3, 2012.

Several members of the marching band, and its auxiliary, will play during the college football bowl game, at halftime, alongside other high school bands from across the nation, as well as the University of Michigan and Virginia Tech marching bands, according to Union Grove’s band director, Stan Kramer.

“We’ve done fund-raising throughout the fall,” said Kramer.

The band director said the group will make the eight-hour road trip to New Orleans on New Year’s Eve, and will spend four days in the bayou. While there, they plan to perform patriotic music in the French Quarter.

“We are very excited about this opportunity for our students,” added Mark Long, band booster president, in a written statement. “To perform in the Super Dome in front of 70,000 fans, and a national television audience, is something they will always remember.”

Kramer said most of the members of the high school marching band have never performed during a Sugar Bowl halftime. He said about 90 percent of the members who are going have never been. The band was invited to the Sugar Bowl in 2009, and was invited back for the 2012 Sugar Bowl, in January 2011.

The marching band has had successes in the time between performances at the college football bowl game. For the past three years, Kramer said, the band has been class champions of each of its band competitions.

It contributes to the total child,” said Kramer. “The concert bands are divided based on ability. The marching band allows for all of our students to participate together.

“The Sugar Bowl allows our students a chance to showcase their talents beyond our area of influence,” Kramer continued. “It also gives our students a chance to interact with other students from around the country.”