Meet the Band

Commander, CW3 Sheila M. Klotz

I grew up on a small farm in Brandywine, Maryland as the middle child of 7 children, 6 of which are girls.  I love volleyball, and was recruited to try out for the WVU team, but chose Marching Band instead.  I’m a stay-at-home mom, private percussion instructor and adjudicator. Mostly, I LOVE being with my family.  My proudest moments in my military career include my Active Duty time with the U.S. Air Force Band in Washington, D.C., but my greatest achievement and passion is being able to watch and be a part of the 257th as we rise out of nothing to a yet undetermined apex.

Executive Officer, CW2 Sharon Toulouse

I claim Lawrence, Kansas because I lived there longer that I did anywhere growing up; I truly feel at home there.  My family hails from Indiana, where I was born, and we have a small family farm there that is still going strong. I love watching football, and now NFL is a weekend tradition! After my time at the University of Kansas- one of the greatest times in my life- and a 5 year stint as an elementary and high school band director, I began my Army career as a trumpet player in the 312th Army Reserve Band in Lawrence, KS.  A little known fact is that I was only the third female commissioned officer in the Army Band’s program.  After 5 years on Active Duty and the birth of my son in February of 2011, I decided to stay home and join the 257th Army Band. If you had told me 10 years ago that I would be an officer in the United States Army and living in our nation’s capital, I would say you were crazy. Yet here I am.  Life has wonderful twists, doesn’t it?