Although graduating from high school in Corpus Christi, TX, Sharon Toulouse calls Lawrence, KS home. After graduating in 1998 from the University of Kansas with a bachelor's in Music Education, Sharon became the assistant director of bands at Lawrence Free State High School. In 2002 Sharon enlisted in the US Army as trumpet player with the 312th Army Reserve Band in Lawrence, KS. Following graduation from her Master’s degree in Instrumental Wind Conducting from the University of Kansas in 2005, she accepted a position in the active Army as an officer/conductor where she commissioned as a Second Lieutenant. During her Army career, she worked with the U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command Band (TRADOC) at Fort Monroe, VA, and the United States Army Field Band at Fort Meade, MD. After the birth of her son Timothy in 2011, she separated from active duty and joined the Washington, DC National Guard Band as their Executive Officer (XO). In 2012, Sharon returned home to Kansas after accepting the position of Assistant Director of Bands at the University of Kansas. With her return to Lawrence, she rejoined the 312th Army Band, this time as their XO. In 2016, she was assigned command of the 451st Army Reserve Band in Minneapolis, MN. After two years of command in Minnesota, she was selected to be the 88th Readiness Division Regional Staff Band Officer, where she advocated for 4 bands and 8 band officers in the 88th Readiness Division. In 2018, Sharon again returned to the 312th Army Band, this time as their Commander. She plans to retire from the Army in September of 2023. Sharon is in her 11th year at KU where her duties include Director, Midwestern Music Camp, assisting with the KU Marching Jayhawks, directing the KU Men's Basketball Band, overseeing other athletic pep bands, teaching Beginning Conducting, teaching Beginning Band Clinic, and directing the KU University Band.