Directors & Voice Staff

Jamieson McCaffity, Director of Choirs 

Email: jamieson_mccaffity@roundrockisd.org

Phone: 512-464-6048

Mr. Jamieson McCaffity is Director of Choirs for Round Rock High School where he is proud to be the leader of the Dragon Choir. He received a Bachelor of Music in Choral Music Studies from the University of Texas at Austin and a Master of Music in Choral Conducting from Texas State University.  In the past eleven years at Round Rock High School a continuous effort has been put towards  building a "Culture of Singing" and a "Tradition of Excellence". This goal has seen overwhelming growth in the program and consistent superior ratings at UIL and concert festivals.

He is also currently the Assistant Director of Music Ministry at Bethany United Methodist church, where he directs the youth choir (PureSound), the adult women's choir (GraceNotes), and assist with all duties and activities of the music ministry at the church. 

Previously Mr. McCaffity taught in Taylor ISD where he was the sole director for the district. In addition to directing choirs Mr. McCaffity has had an extensive performing career. He has performed in the roles of Sarastro (Mozart's Magic Flute) and Mr. Olsen (Weill's Street Scene) for the Texas State Opera Theater and also performed with the Grammy nominated choral ensemble Conspirare under the direction of Craig Hella Johnson. Music is my life and I hope that it becomes an important part of your life.

The McCaffity's have two amazing daughters, Maggie (9) and Juliet (3), and a dog named Coco. When not in a choral rehearsal or chasing his girls around, he enjoys playing disc golf, sailing, and of course Longhorn athletics.

This should be another exciting year as we continue to make RRHS the premiere choral department in Central Texas.

Emma deGraaf, Assistant Director RRHS & WHS

Email: emma_degraaf@roundrockisd.org

Phone: 512-464-6179

Ms. Emma deGraaf is the Assistant Choir Director at Round Rock High School & Westwood High School for the 2023-2024 school year. Previously, they were the choir director at Hernandez Middle School in Round Rock ISD. 

Emma graduated Summa Cum Laude from the University of North Texas with a Bachelor's degree in Music Education, where they also joined the Dallas Symphony Chorus. Currently, they perform with Chorus Austin in the Symphonic Chorus, and Femme Rock.

When not working on music, they love cuddling with their dog Houston, playing video games, and learning new things.

Lauren White Arthur, Voice Teacher

Ms. Arthur, soprano, is a highly sought-after performer and voice teacher in the Austin area. Originally from Wichita Falls, Texas, she completed her Bachelor's degree in Vocal Performance from Texas Tech University and her Master's degree in Vocal/Opera Performance at the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston, Massachusetts. While in Boston, she was a member of New England Conservatory’s Opera Studio and Boston Opera Collaborative, a Boston-based, non-profit arts organization geared toward furthering the careers of young artists. Following her studies in Boston, Lauren resided in New York, New York where she performed in various venues and settings in and around the city. She was featured in Dara Friedman's documentary Musical, a film based on a series of live, spontaneous performances throughout New York City during the fall of 2008. Upon her return to Texas, she has had the pleasure of performing with Austin Lyric Opera, LOLA – local opera, local artists, and various churches and choral groups around the Austin area. In 2016, she was a recipient of the Joan Frey Boytim award for private studio teachers through the National Association of Teachers of Singing. Ms. White Arthur maintains a studio of about sixty-five voice students, many of whom have received outstanding recognition from organizations such as the National Association of Teachers of Singing, Texas Music Educators Association, and the University Interscholastic League.

Mikaela Pace, Voice Teacher

Ms.Pace is a rising Native American soprano with a passion for performing both operatic and musical theatre repertoire. She was born and raised in Carrollton, TX. She has performed with Red River Lyric Opera, Matador Opera Workshop, Music in the Marche, Baylor Opera Theatre, Texas Tech Opera Theatre, Waco Civic Theatre, Wild Imagings, Lubbock Moonlight Musicals, Lubbock Community Theatre, and more. Ms. Pace has participated in multiple voice competitions. In 2023, she participated with Baylor Opera Theatre in the Robert Hansen Collegiate Opera Scenes Competition and placed 1st in Opera Division II.  In 2022, she was a semi-finalist in the American Pops Orchestra Next Gen Competition. In the 2021 season of the John Alexander Vocal Competition, she was a finalist in both the Opera Student Artist and Musical Theatre Student Artist Categories. Ms. Pace is also the 2nd recipient of the Melody Claire Hall Voice Scholarship (2018) where she had the gracious opportunity to open the second act in the SoCo Women's Chorus concert at Martin Luther Cathedral in Austin, TX. Ms. Pace received her Master of Music degree in Vocal Performance (2023) at Baylor University in Waco, TX and her Bachelor of Music Performance - Voice degree (2021) at Texas Tech University in Lubbock, TX. She has recently moved to the Austin area to be closer to more performance opportunities. To learn more about Ms. Pace and her upcoming engagements, feel free to visit her website at www.mikaelapace.com. 

MORE VOICE FACULTY TO BE ADDED AS NEEDED!!