Elaina DeJong
SINGER, SONGWRITER
Elaina began music lessons at age 4 on the violin, then piano at 8, and voice at 15. She wrote her first song in high school, after a creative writing teacher encouraged her to try poetry. Life in a busy family of 7 kids, an early childhood move from California to Idaho, and many adventures in school, drama, and college provided plenty of material.
When Elaina met Kat Keseloff in 2022, she was delighted to find a kindred spirit who loved writing and singing as much as she did. Last August, after a spur-of-the-moment jam session thanks to Shiloh and the Storm family, the girls were hired for their first public gig as a music duo, "The Kindreds". Since, the duo has played regularly around the area at various venues, including LYFE, Studio 107, Albertini's, and more. They will appear as part of the Riverstone Concert Series on July 18th.
On May 31st, Elaina will debut a concert production of her original music at the Kroc, with a full band accompanying and AP Collective opening. Her first single will be released in early May. Some of her biggest inspirations are Billy Joel, Rich Mullins, Lizzy McAlpine, Laufey, Sophia James, The Paper Kites, Colony House, Switchfoot, and Sara Bareilles. She thanks God for it all.
ACTRESS
The 2014 Christian Youth Theatre production of "Seussical" at the Kroc CDA became the first of many stage appearances for Elaina. She crossed over to acting on screen for films and commercials when she signed with MAM Talent Agency in 2017.
Elaina studied theatre first at North Idaho College, and then transferred to Eastern Washington University. She graduated from EWU with her BA in Theatre summa cum laude, and was a 2021 recipient of the scholastic Frances B. Huston Award.
Beyond acting, after college Elaina worked for Coeur d'Alene Summer Theatre on their year-round production staff as an Artistic Associate. Elaina has also gotten to intersect her love of music and theatre by writing underscores for six play productions. She dreams of writing musicals and has a few plans in the works.
This summer, Elaina will appear onstage as Tzeitel in Coeur d'Alene Summer Theatre's production of Fiddler on the Roof in June, and as Belle in Walla Walla Summer Theatre's Beauty and the Beast in August.