Dena Laurel
Dena Laurel (Rio Grande City, TX) is a graduate of Baylor University and Florida State University and holds both Bachelor and Master of Music Degrees in music performance. She began working in Roma ISD as an assistant band director in 1997 and has served as the Director of Bands at Roma Middle School, the district French horn teacher, and the Director of Bands at Roma High School.
Under Laurel’s direction, the Roma Middle School and Roma High School concert and marching bands have been awarded consistent Texas UIL Sweepstakes awards, numerous festival grand championships, BOA Regional Championships and Super Regional Class Championships, and have performed at the prestigious Carnegie Hall in New York City. Under her tenure, the Roma bands have advanced to state finals ten times in the TMEA Honor Band process, placing second in 2023, and seven times to the UIL Texas State Marching Contest, advancing to state finals in 2023.
After being named the Elementary Music and Arts Education Director in 2024, she is now proudly beginning her 30th year serving Roma ISD music students.
Laurel is a member of Phi Beta Mu, TMEA, TBA, and TMAA and has served as the TMEA Region 15 Middle School Band Chair, TMEA Region 15 Band Division Chair, and TMEA Region 15 President. She resides in Rio Grande City with her husband Abel, and is a proud mother to Nathan Abel, who is pursuing his master’s in horn performance at the University of North Texas, and Brandon Amando, a senior English major and art minor at Texas State University.