This session aims to empower women through discussions on improving mentorship in the band field. By exploring research on the experiences of women band directors, attendees will learn about historical perspectives of women in instrumental music, how those perspectives impact women today, and how to improve the experiences of women band directors through mentorship. This session will provide attendees with concrete and successful methods to support current and aspiring women band directors.
Laura Johnson Doebler
- Biographical Information
Laura Johnson Doebler is a band director at Dakota Hills
Middle School in Eagan, Minnesota. At Dakota Hills, Laura leads the woodwind
ensemble program, teaches woodwind lessons, and co-teaches nine concert bands.
Laura graduated summa cum laude from
Gustavus Adolphus College with a Bachelor of Arts in Music Education. She
received her Master of Music Education (Conducting Concentration) degree from
Old Dominion University. Her master’s thesis, “Gender-Specific Mentorship for
Collegiate Female Band Directors” was selected for Old Dominion University’s
2020 Graduate Research Achievement Day. Prior to her position in Eagan, Laura
was the band director at Oscar Smith Middle School, a Title 1 school in
Chesapeake, Virginia, and the Assistant Conductor of the Bay Youth Wind
Symphony. Additionally, Laura taught middle school band and general music in
Sartell, Minnesota and served as an instructor for youth summer band camps and
marching programs in the Twin Cities. Laura has performed with and conducted
ensembles on an international scale, making her international conducting debut
with the Windiana Concert Band during their 2018 tour of Italy. She is an
active clinician, with recent presentations at MMEA, VMEA, NYSBDA, and WBDI
conferences. Laura is a proud member of Pi Kappa Lambda, Women Band Directors
International, National Association for Music Education, and Kappa Kappa Psi.