When the Corcoran Cadets were assembled in 1883, it would have been impossible to foresee the longevity of their service in the District of Columbia. The 257th Army Band is proud of its organizational lineage and association with the Corcoran Cadets; the militia that inspired John Philip Sousa to compose his march of the same name.

The heritage of the 257th is honorable: noted historical performances include the burial of the Unknown Solider in 1921, musical support for the state funeral of Presidents Harding and Kennedy, overseas deployments to Greece and Panama and consecutive invitations to the Great American Brass Band Festival in 2003 and 2004.

During the summer of 2005, the 257th was selected to perform a public relations Concert Tour throughout the northeastern United States. Although centrally located among the finest military bands in the world, The 257th Army Band remains the only military band officially recognized as “The Band of the Nation’s Capital”.

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?