Catelli's first experience acting was performing in a Cape Cod Theater Company's presentation of the musical Oliver at the age of 5. He did not perform again until the fall of 1993 when he joined the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth's Theater Company under the direction of Angus Bailey. During his time with the Theater Company Jay played many roles in an assortment of musicals including Bye Bye Birdie, Annie, The Wizard of Oz and The Sound of Music. He stayed with the Theater Company until 1996 when he was in the process of acting in his first film _Race (1997/I)_. After Race, he stepped away from acting and pursued other interest. In 1998 he joined the Dartmouth High School Chapter of the East Timor Action Network and pressed for the independence of East Timor. The actions caught the attention of several political leaders which summoned his chapter to the capital. Throughout this process acted as the spokesperson for the group and appeared on international media. The following year he was elected as Chairman of the Southeastern Student Advisory Council to the Massachusetts Board of Education where he protested the implementation of Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment Test as high school graduation requirement. Now he is an undergraduate at the University of Massachusetts Amherst where he is studying Computer Systems Engineering and Mathematics, he also TA at freshman level course at the university.
