Coal City friends form performing duo for the love of it

SHOREWOOD — Jack Micetich and Kailee Martin will present a holiday show titled, “Christmas Tunes with Kailee and Jack” at 4:15 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 13, at The Timbers, 1100 N. River Rd., Shorewood.

Micetich and Martin are friends from Coal City High School.

Together, they were in Footnotes, a show choir directed by Bonnie McDowell. Their paths kept crossing due to this mutual interest in music.

For example, they traveled to Chicago to audition (separately) for American Idol. Unfortunately, each was eliminated, but the experience only served to heighten their passion for music.

They decided to team up and create a performing duo.

To gain experience, they chose to volunteer to perform at Chicagoland not-for-profits and retirement communities.

“We’re just starting out,” Micetich said. “I am grateful to perform and to bring Christmas cheer to people. We need experience and not money, at this point.”

Micetich has a kind heart, indeed. Recently, he recorded a CD at a professional studio in Aurora, all in an effort to sell CDs to raise money for a youngster with leukemia. He was able to donate $350 to the young man.

Micetich is a freshman at Illinois State University in Bloomington. He admits to some home sickness at first, but he is someone who sees the silver lining.

“Being away at school has helped me,” he said. “It has opened my emotions more. My songs have more meaning to me now.”

Aspiring to be a math teacher, Micetich knows that music will always be in his life in some way or another.

The same can be said of Martin. She is a junior at Coal City High School, and she adores music.

Eventually, she will major in kinesiology, but for now, music is high on her list.

“Off stage, I am shy and quiet,” she said, “but once I’m up there, I’m alive! I love seeing people and seeing them happy.”

Micetich and Martin perform just for the love of it. According to Martin, they don’t care how many people are out there, be it one or 100.

“We don’t need money to do this,” she said. “We just love doing it.”