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Dr. Matt Bonsignore
Director of Bands
Platte County School District
Dr. Matthew H. Bonsignore has been teaching since 1999, all with the Platte County R-3 School District. Hired as Assistant Director of Bands, and later serving as Director of Jazz Studies and Associate Director of Bands, his job titles have evolved over the years. In 2021, he was hired to take over for his colleague and friend Dr. Jay Jones (retired) as Director of Bands for the Platte County School District, becoming only the 4th Director of Bands in the last 53 years. Along with overseeing the District's Instrumental program, Dr. Bonsignore's teaching duties include directing the high school Wind Ensemble, the Pit Band, co-directing the Pirate Traditions and Pride Marching Bands, team teaching the Pirate Pep Band, co-directing the PCMS 8th grade band and jazz band, and serving as the brass instructor at Platte City Middle School.
During his time at Platte County, Dr. Bonsignore has helped establish a commitment to excellence throughout the band program. During his tenure at Platte County, participation in the high school band program has grown from 60 members to over 200 members. Marching Bands at Platte County have won more than 20 Grand Championships, earned consistent 1st place finishes as well as received numerous caption and section awards. The Platte County bands have been selected to perform at the Missouri Music Educators In-Service Conference/Clinic four times since 2006, and countless students have earned District, State and National recognition. Under his guidance, the jazz ensemble has grown from a non-traditional setting, without full instrumentation, to an auditioned ensemble that is part of the curriculum and has accumulated consistent 1 ratings and 1st place awards at jazz festivals, placing 1st at the Festivals of Music National competition and winning 2 Grand National trophies in Florida. Working alongside his team of outstanding band directors at Platte County, the middle school band programs at both Platte City Middle School and Barry Middle School continue to grow and thrive, with over 450 6-8th grade band students. Like former Superintendent of Schools Dr. Mark Harpst used to say: “It’s a great day to be a Pirate!”
Dr. Bonsignore holds both a Doctor of Education and a Specialist in Administration degree from St. Louis University, a Master of Music degree in Conducting from the American Band College at Southern Oregon University, and received his Bachelor of Science degree in Instrumental Music Education from Northwest Missouri State University. He has been fortunate to study conducting and trumpet under these educational giants: Alfred E. Sergel III, Colonel John Bourgeois, Dr. Tim Lautzenheiser, Dr. Karl Sievers, Dr. John Entzi, Dr. Keith Benjamin and Mr. Charles Boyd.
Additionally, Dr. Bonsignore maintains a thriving private trumpet studio with 25 students from Platte County and surrounding school districts. Students who have studied with Dr. Bonsignore regularly receive District, State and even National level recognition, have gone on to serve as section leaders and principle trumpet at Universities such as Northwest Missouri State, University of Central Missouri, Kansas State, and Nebraska, and have marched in the DCI finalist groups Phantom Regiment, Madison Scouts, Boston Crusaders, the Blue Coats and the Blue Devils.
Dr. Bonsignore is currently serving as the President of the Northwest District of Missouir Music Educators Association, and has previously held the Jazz and High School Band Vice President positions in District #1. He is an active clinician and adjudicator across Missouri, and his professional affiliations include NafME, MSTA, MBA, MMEA, MOAJE, JEN, Phi Beta Mu, Phi Mu Alpha and Kappa Kappa Psi.