The Pella High School Jazz Band is aiming for the program’s 18th ever state championship at the Iowa Jazz Championships Tuesday in Ames.

Pella most recently won two championships in a row in 2015 and 2016 at the event featuring 60 of Iowa’s best ensembles in four classes, and has finished in the top four in their class at the event for 36 consecutive years. The Dutch will first perform Tuesday afternoon at 1:45 p.m. at Iowa State University among the 15 Class 3A bands for a chance to compete in the finals at Stephens Auditorium that evening beginning at 7 p.m.

Pella Jazz has earned 17 championships all-time in the last 40 years. Two-time defending Class 1A Champion North Mahaska is also competing and has won seven times since 2009.