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KANSAN.COM
ARTS & CULTURE
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Assistant Director of Bands, Sharon Toulouse, became interested in conducting during her time as assistant band director at Free State High School.
University conductor draws on lifelong experiences
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Sharon Toulouse, assistant director of bands, was a part of the Marching Jayhawks while working on her undergraduate degree.
▶ JOSH MCQUADE
@L0neWOlfMcQuade
Just like anything, music is something that takes passion to succeed in for a prolonged time. Sharon Toulouse, assistant director of the University's bands, has never lost this passion since she developed it as a child in Corpus Christi, Texas.
Toulouse's mother, who was also her preschool music teacher, introduced her to the trumpet at the age of 4. At the moment Toulouse heard the sound her mother was able to make with the instrument, she knew that's what she wanted to play.
"My family is very involved with music," Toulouse said. "My dad is an organist and my mom is an elementary music teacher, so I grew up with music in my household."
Once she began high school, Toulouse joined her school's band. She also played in the Texas All-State Band, which is where
her move to the University was initially sparked.
"Bob Foster, who was the director of bands [at the University], was also an arranger and composer," Toulouse said. "My dad, at the time, was doing music engraving and was engraving one of [Foster's] pieces for publication."
After her father mentioned to Foster that she recently made the Texas All-State Band, he offered her a visit to the University. The visit convinced her to attend the University, where she would receive her undergraduate degree in 1998.
"When I was teaching public school, I was really enjoying the conducting side, the physical side, so I started asking questions
Toulouse then began working at Free State High School in Lawrence as the assistant band director. During that time, she became more interested in another part of music performance; conducting.
about a degree in conducting," Toulouse said.
As a result, Toulouse returned to the University to earn a master's degree in instrumental wind conduction. While completing her master's, Toulouse joined the 312th Army Band in Lawrence as a member of the Army Reserves.
After finishing her master's degree, Toulouse auditioned for, and received, a position with the Army Band as an active duty member. She worked with the U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command Band at Fort Monroe, Va., and the U.S. Army Field Band at Fort Meade, MD. During this time, she hung up her trumpet and began conducting.
Toulouse left the Army Band in 2011 due to the birth of her son and she joined the Washington National Guard.
"I would've moved all over," Toulouse said of her leaving the Army Band. "I could've been in Germany,
I could've been in Korea, I could've been in all these different places, and that didn't suit well for a family."
She returned to the University in 2012 and took on her current role as the assistant director of bands where she conducts the University Band and the Men's Basketball Band.
The Director of the Marching Jayhawks, Matthew Smith, said Toulouse has been a great member of their band faculty who goes above and beyond in her position.
"Whereas many people in her type of position have a more limited experience, Sharon possesses a personal knowledge of the history of our band program at KU, and draws from her time working with military bands to provide us with a unique skill set," Smith said.
- Edited by Chandler Boese