For 27 years, the Blue Jay Band has connected students and families across the Atlantic through a longstanding musical and cultural exchange with Clavius-Gymnasium in Bamberg, Germany. What began in 2000 as a partnership between band director Joe Caluda ’79 and former Clavius-Gymnasium principal Rudy Schmitt has grown into an international tradition involving more than 2,000 students, alumni, family members, and friends.

The program brings Blue Jays to Europe, where they experience different cultures before arriving in Bamberg to live with German host families, attend classes, and perform alongside the Clavius Big Band. In return, German students travel to New Orleans, staying with Jesuit families and experiencing the traditions, music, and hospitality of South Louisiana.

A Tradition Spanning Generations

Under Caluda’s leadership, the exchange has become much more than a musical experience. Students learn to navigate unfamiliar places, communicate across language barriers, and develop friendships that often continue long after graduation. Many alumni and parents have returned to Germany over the years, reconnecting with host families they first met through the program.

During the band’s summer 2026 visit to Bamberg, Caluda received special recognition for his contributions to the exchange. At the city’s historic Rathaus, Deputy Mayor Eva Jutzler presented him with a certificate honoring his longstanding efforts to strengthen the relationship between the two schools.

“There are moments when you realize that something you once imagined has become far greater than you ever dreamed,” Caluda said. “To stand in Bamberg’s Rathaus, to have the mayor recognize the importance of an exchange I was blessed to begin nearly three decades ago, and to share that moment with so many of the people who have nurtured it, believed in it, and helped it flourish was profoundly moving. This exchange may have begun as an idea, but it became something lasting because of the extraordinary people on both sides of the Atlantic who made it their own.”

The recognition celebrated not simply the longevity of the program, but the impact of an educational partnership that has connected thousands of people through music, hospitality, and a shared commitment to cultural understanding.

From New Orleans to Germany and Back

This summer, 34 members of the band, accompanied by family members and fellow travelers, journeyed through England, Ireland, and France before arriving in Bamberg. Along the way, students explored historic cities, experienced international music and theater, and celebrated Mass at Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris.

In Germany, the Blue Jays were welcomed into the homes of Clavius-Gymnasium families. They attended classes, rehearsed with German musicians, and performed together at venues including the Bamberg Swim Club and the Wilde Rose Keller biergarten.

For senior Jude Schiro, the hospitality was immediate. “When we arrived at the house, we were treated as family, and this went on throughout the trip,” he said. His host family introduced him to local celebrations and even arranged a private tour of Bamberg Cathedral led by the city’s archbishop.

The exchange came full circle in October when members of the Clavius Big Band traveled to New Orleans, reuniting with their American counterparts. During their visit, the German musicians performed in Benson Arena, bringing the international partnership directly to the Jesuit campus. Jesuit families once again opened their homes, returning the hospitality extended to the Blue Jays just months earlier.

For current and prospective Blue Jays, the exchange demonstrates how participation in the band can lead to experiences far beyond musical performance. Students have opportunities to explore other countries, experience different cultures firsthand, and develop the confidence and independence that come with navigating the world beyond New Orleans.

Read a detailed account from chaperone and alum D.J. Galiano ’07.