Laura Johnson Doebler, MME

Laura Johnson Doebler is a band director at Dakota Hills Middle School in Eagan, Minnesota. In this position, Laura leads the woodwind ensemble program, woodwind lessons, and team teaches approximately 600 6th-8th grade students in nine concert bands. Laura serves on a team of five District 196 music educators in the Culturally Responsive Arts Education: Action and Learning Cohort sponsored by the Minnesota Department of Education, aiming to improve equity in arts education in Minnesota. Additionally, Laura serves on staff with the Eastview High School Marching Band, was a section coach for Minnesota Junior Winds, and operates a private clarinet studio.

Laura received her Master of Music Education (Conducting Concentration) degree from Old Dominion University in 2020. As a graduate assistant in the F. Ludwig Diehn School of Music, Laura served as the Graduate Conductor for the ODU Wind Ensemble, ODU Symphonic Band, Monarch Marching Band, and Monarch Basketball Band. Laura studied conducting with Dr. Brian Diller and performed as a clarinetist in the Virginia Wind Symphony, ODU Wind Ensemble, ODU Symphony Orchestra, and ODU Clarinet Choir. Laura's master's thesis “Gender-Specific Mentorship for Collegiate Female Band Directors” was selected for Old Dominion University’s 2020 Graduate Research Achievement Day, while also earning her the Graduate Music Education Award for Outstanding Researcher. During her time in Virginia, Laura was the Assistant Conductor for the Bay Youth Wind Symphony and Instructional Staff with the Hickory Marching Hawks at Hickory High School. She served as the Director of Bands at Oscar Smith Middle School in Chesapeake, VA, a Title I school, from 2020-2022.

Originally from Minnesota, Laura graduated summa cum laude from Gustavus Adolphus College with a Bachelor of Arts in Instrumental Music Education. Upon graduation, Laura held the position of Dean of Students with the Lutheran Summer Music Program. Her first teaching position was at Sartell Middle School (Sartell, MN), where she taught 7th grade band and 6th-7th grade general music. While at Sartell, Laura served on staff for both the middle school and high school marching band programs. Additionally, Laura has been an instructor at multiple summer band camps in Eagan, MN and Roseville, MN. She also served on staff with the Rosemount Marching Band in 2016, which placed at the Golden Regiment Invitational (Blue Springs, MO), the Youth in Music Band Championships (Minneapolis, MN), and the Bands of America Super Regional Competition (St. Louis, MO). 

Laura has performed with and conducted ensembles on both a national and international scale, making her international conducting debut with the Windiana Concert Band during their tour of Italy in 2018 and her Carnegie Hall debut in 2022. Her most recent international conducting appearance was in Costa Rica with the Windiana Concert Band in 2025. She is an active clinician with presentations at The Midwest Clinic, MMEA (Minnesota), MDMEA, VMEA, NYSBDA, and WBDI conferences. She has been a guest on music podcasts such as Band is Everything and Pass the Baton. Laura's research interests include women in wind band, mentorship, middle school teaching, and student empowerment/leadership.

Laura is a proud member of Pi Kappa Lambda, Women Band Directors International (Professional Development Committee Chair), National Association for Music Education, and Kappa Kappa Psi.