Cindy Ja has been directing choirs for 18 years. The last 9 of those years have been spent in Round Rock, TX.   She has been the choir director as Walsh Middle School since its opening in 2008.   Previously,   she had taught in RRISD as the Head Choir Director at Deerpark Middle School, as well as the Assistant Choir Director at McNeil High School.    Her choirs have  consistantly received Sweepstakes ratings at UIL Competitions throughout her tenure at these schools.  She is the director of Bella Voce, Men's Chorus, and the 6th grade Treble Choir at Walsh Middle School. 

  Mrs. Ja is a graduate of Evangel University in Springfield, Missouri, with a Bachelors Degree in Music Education.  After graduating, she began her teaching career by directing both Junior High and High School Choirs in the Fort Worth and Arlington area.  She is a member of Texas Music Educators Association, Texas Choral Directors Association, as well as Texas Music Adjudicators Association, where she has earned the opportunity to clinic, evaluate, and adjudicate choirs across Texas.

Mrs. Ja is also the proud mother of 2 beautiful girls, Makena who is 7 and Sadie who is 4.  Walsh students and parents will definitely be meeting the girls who are "Wildcats in Training", as well as her husband, Yee, who is a huge supporter of the Walsh Choirs! 

 Tricia Russell has been directing choirs and teaching music for 8 years in the Round Rock Independent School District.  She was the head choir director at McNeil High School for 5 years, earning consistent sweepstakes ratings at UIL competitions.  She is very excited to be working with the Walsh Choir Program, assisting her talented and dear friend Mrs. Ja.  Mrs. Russell will be directing the 6th grade Walsh Boyz Choir, the 6th grade Mixed Wildcat Choir as well as  Concert Choir. 

Mrs. Russell graduated Summa Cum Laude from Texas State University, where she received a bachelors degree in music performance.  Upon graduating, she performed in musical theatre productions at the Paramount in Austin, taught private voice, and directed 3 youth choirs and a youth praise band. She is a member of Texas Music Educators Association, Texas Choral Directors Association, as well as Texas Music Adjudicators Association, where she has earned the opportunity to evaluate, and adjudicate choirs across Texas.

Mrs. Russell is the proud mother to Christian, age 3, who is the most handsome, intelligent, and musically gifted baby in the world (in her humble opinion).   Her husband Jason is a band director at Connally High School in Pflugerville and the best dad and husband a girl could ask for!