Caroline Helwick and Angela Ball present donated instruments to Jesuit band director Joe Caluda ’79 and drum majors Tristan Killgore and Dane Castillo. Killgore and Castillo are seniors.

Jesuit’s 2015-16 drum majors joined the school’s band director to accept a generous donation of instruments from a friend and relative of a deceased Blue Jay alumnus.

Seniors Tristan Killgore and Dane Castillo along with Mr. Joe Caluda ’79 thanked Angela Ball and Caroline Helwick for donating four beautiful saxophones, a clarinet, and a string instrument related to the lute family.

Ball spent nine years with alumnus Michael Helwick ’64 before his passing in August. Caroline Helwick is Michael Helwick’s sister-in-law. She was married to Michael’s brother, Stephen Helwick ’65, who is also deceased. The instruments were used by Michael and Stephen’s father. Now, thanks to the kindness and thoughtfulness of Misses Ball and Helwick, they will be played by Blue Jays.

It’s likely the saxophones and clarinet will end up with Blue Jay Marching, Concert, and Jazz bands. The string instrument could be passed along to the Odd Instruments Orchestra — a club started several years ago by a merry group of students and Fr. Raymond Fitzgerald, S.J. ’76, who was Jesuit’s president at the time.