Featured Singer

Favorite quote: "I want to absorb all this world has to offer, I want to take on everything." — Me;
"I know who you are and I'm not impressed." — Joan Jett

Hometown: The tiny town of Dayton, Oregon. No gas station and one blinking stop light

Town of birth: Salem, Oregon

Zodiac sign: Libra

Hobbies: I am currently enjoying being in Beati, playin indoor soccer, always creating art (printmaking, painting, and graphic design), and I love spending time hanging out with my boyfriend Curt I used to dance and act as well and would love to pick the both of them back up again, but I just don't have the time

Pet peeves: Conceptual "artists" that attend my school... I am sorry, but you are not going to get hired for your peanut butter and jelly-wall-building skills or for your feministic/masculine life size photo based around your senior thesis that displays your genitals in a high resolution

Nickname (s): Some Kaliave members call me Joan Jett (flattered!), but I have also been called Jaimers, Jammers, Jai, and James. My grandpa also used to call me Squirrel, and my parents used to call me Britches

I have been singing for (years and/or months): I have sung my entire life, but did not start singing correctly (discovering chest voice vs. head voice) until six years ago

Things I'm looking forward to in Beati this year are: I am really excited to be in Fili this season as well as becoming a Brass member. I enjoy being as involved as possible.

The best part of singing: The best part of singing is that I love doing it. I love singing in the shower, at home (when alone), at family get-togethers, on stage, in musicals, and in choirs. I love singing chamber, pop, rock, jazz, gospel and classical. Though, if I had to choose a favorite it would be musical numbers

Musical instruments I play (voice, too!): I sing (of course) primarily second Soprano, but I can sing whatever I need to. I also played the flute for seven years, and I can play basic drums/percussion

Favorite song we're singing right now: "On the Deck of a Spanish Sailing Ship" and "The Quest Unending"

Goals I have as a singer: I would love to become more of a soloist. I used to write songs, I would love to pick that back up again and see where it goes.

Goals I have this year, music-wise: I would love to sing an original song for my sister at her wedding this summer. Preferably sing it well. I have to give a speech as well and I am an awful public speaker, so I will have to make up for it somehow

Favorite composer/songwriter: Hmm... Claude-Michael Schonberg, Alan Menken, Dunkin Sheick, and of course, Andrew Lloyd Webber

Songs and/or groups that are played most often on my mp3 player right now: Bands played most often include Say Anything, The Riot Before, and Motley Crue

Favorite genre(s) of music: Musicals, Musicals, Musicals, Jazz, some pop/rock, and thanks to my boyfriend, 80's rock/hair metal

Favorite song(s): "In This Diary" by The Ataris. Every now and then I have a new favorite song, but this one has stuck with me the longest.

Favorite color(s): Dark grey

Favorite sport(s): Soccer (indoor as well as outdoor), and dance (jazz/kickline)

Favorite sports team(s): I don't really root for any sports teams...but I guess I cannot help but support the Portland Timbers

Favorite place(s) you've visited: I have not been very many places, but my favorite places have been the ones I visited on a vacation with my family. We went to the Redwood Forest, Las Vegas, San Francisco/Los Angeles/San Diego, and Mexico

Place(s) you would most like to visit: Anywhere warm. Hawaii or the Caribbean would be nice.

Favorite book: My favorite childhood books include Little Bear, and Icky Icky Chicken Pox. Currently I don't have a favorite book, but I have recently started reading many autobiographies

Favorite movie: The Newsies

Favorite television show: The Office, House, Lie to Me, Pushing Daisies, 30 Rock, Cake Bossm Big Bang Theory

Favorite website: Until I am done designing my website, Facebook

Favorite restaurant: Any restaurant that serves breakfast all day

Thing(s) you would find in my refrigerator right now: Leftover scratch made pizza (sauce, dough, and all), around 30 condiments, an assortment of veggies, eggs, milk, and a delicious Marionberry, apple, and pear pie

Favorite food(s): Brownies, bustle sprouts, peas, mashed potatoes, and all sorts of pasta

Favorite genre(s) of food: Italian as well as all food that Curt makes

Favorite beverage: Diet Dr. Pepper, Americanos, and vitamin water

Favorite sweet: Chocolate, chocolate, chocolate

Favorite ice cream flavor: Anything that is packed full of chocolaty goodness, but Ben & Jerry's Americone Dream is the best for brownie a la mode

Food(s) that I hate: I cannot stand the taste or smell of celery, or canned green beans. I also don't like pickles, and don't care for cranberries

Strangest food I've ever eaten: I am not too adventurous when it comes to food. I tried to eat raw octopus once...that didn't work out. Kimchi maybe? When I was a toddler I did eat some mud, sugar ants, and sucked toothpaste out of tube found on the side of the road once (I'm pretty sure I ate mud a few times)

If I was an animal, I would be a (and why): Although super ugly, a Vulture. I could fly and not have to be afraid of anything!

Favorite historical figure: Not big on historical influences. I do what I do, and don't really take what people have achieved before me into consideration

Favorite fictional character: I used to watch and read Little Bear all the time when I was younger. Belle from Beauty and the Beast and Meeko from Pocahontas are close runner-ups.

When I have free time, I tend to: Nap, facebook (yes, it's a verb), jog/gym, clean, and cuddle

If I could have any superpower, it would be (and why): To fly! Because it would be super kickass!

I am the best at: Everything. Duh.

People I respect the most are: Those who are not belittling and have big goals in life

People who have had the most influence in my life are: My parents, boyfriend, and high school art teacher

My idols are: Mmm...don't have any. I LIKE Joan Jett and Victoria Becham, but I don't have idols

Person from this era I would like to meet: When I was a toddler, I always wanted to meet, or see, Michael Jackson in concert

My most prized possession: My stuffed animal named Midge (a dog I had once), my laptop, and the key around my neck

If I was offered any job or position on this planet, anywhere, it would be (and why): I would be a rockstar, EVERYWHERE!

If I could have any skill or talent, it would be (and why)? Being a trapeze artist was also one of my childhood dreams. That would be neat. But really, now I just wish I could play the piano

If I knew could I could try anything and not fail, I would: Again, fly!

If I didn't have to work ever again and could do anything I wanted, I would: Travel, travel, travel

If I had a million dollars, I would: Pay off college, and stick it in savings until I needed to help me a house (and wedding eventually)

Thing(s) that make me angry: Arrogant belittling pricks, people that attend my school, and homeless beggars

My biggest weaknesses are: Chocolate and...chocolate.

Something(s) that is/are overrated: Hipsters; "vintage;" Lady Gaga; Kesha; performance art; feminism; conceptual art that involves feminism, masculinity, or nudity, steam punk, and ear gauging/plugs; shaving one side of your head next to your ear.

If someone wrote a biography about me, the title would be: Jai

Strangest thing I have ever done: At the age of about 4-6 there was a pasture behind the place I lived that had over one-hundred sheep. The sheep would get sick and pass away, then after a few months there would be bones left behind. My siblings and I would go into the pasture, collect the bones, carry them into the pool with us and wash them. So I guess you could say I bathed in sheep bones? Yeah, creepy...

The most awesome thing I've ever done: Being my school's homecoming queen and singing the national anthem at the state competition for dance and drill at U of P were both pretty neat, I guess

A general goal(s) I have is: Be happy with a successful career, love, and a family

A few important elements to a friendship are: I feel like my friendships don't really have qualificationsor determined expectations. They just are, and will be what they are

How friends describe me: Um...nice? Sure...

Three adjectives which describe me: Super funky fresh. Oooh yeah...

Some fun facts about me: In high school I did everything: ASB vice, Community 101 PR, dance team, co-ed soccer, indoor soccer, track and field (Pole vault, 4x4, 800, and 1500), cross country, choir and two jazz choirs, band, pep band, drama club, gallery theatre, National Honors Society with over 300 hours in community service, and worked part time at an Italian restaurant. Yeah, I did a lot...

Something that is unique about me: As far as I know, I am the youngest member of Beati's adult ensembles!

Things that makes me happy: Singing, painting, hiking, dancing, and my love

What I would do with the time if I had only one week to live: Spend all the time with my family and Curt (I don't see my family as much as I would like to, not having a car makes things difficult)

What I value the most: Education, goals, and my relationship with Curt

Thing I'm most proud of: Not settling for anything less that what I believe to be the best

Why I love Beati: It was really great to be able to find a choir in Portland since my school does not have a music program, and it has been much more than any choir I was looking for. It is filled with fun, enjoyable people who all share the love of singing and music in general, and I enjoy coming to rehearsal each week, as well as performing, of course. Beati challenges me to become a better singer, and I never feel left out (I was the youngest member in the last jazz choir I was in, and I always felt pushed to the side due to my age). At Beati I have always felt welcomed and am friends with the rest of the choir, not just another member.

What else? Include anything and everything: Songs that rhyme "rattlesnake" with "shake" really annoy me. Yes, I am talking to you Motley Crue and Skid Row. That's all!