Dr. Matthew Bonsignore
Director of Bands
Platte County School District
Dr. Matthew H. Bonsignore is currently in his 24th year of teaching, all with the Platte County R-3 School District. Hired in 1999 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 took over for his colleague and friend Dr. Jay Jones (retired) as Director of Bands for the Platte County School District. Dr. Bonsignore's teaching duties include directing the high school Wind Ensemble, Director of Pit Band, co-directing the Pirate Traditions and Pride Marching Bands and serving as the brass instructor for sixth, seventh and eighth grade bands at Platte City Middle School.
During his time at Platte County, Dr. Bonsignore has helped establish a commitment to excellence throughout the band program. 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 become one of the premier organizations in the school. This award-winning group regularly participates in jazz competitions and festivals in Missouri, Kansas and nationally. Students are taught to appreciate and explore the jazz idiom in a family atmosphere that allows self-expression through improvisation. This highly decorated ensemble has been selected National Grand Champion in Orlando, Florida twice, has received awards for Outstanding Trumpet and Trombone Sections at the Greater St. Louis Jazz Festival and awarded first place in the Festivals of Music National Competition. In a non-competitive setting, this ensemble regularly performs for the Kansas City Mavericks Hockey Club, tours the elementary and middle schools in Platte City in their highly anticipated Winter Tour, and has played for the Kansas City Comets, the Kansas City Attack, and the Kansas City Brigade Indoor Football League. At home, this group performs three concerts a year, including the Evening of Jazz - a three hour fundraiser that has become a highlight for the community and regularly draws 500+ people each year.
Dr. Bonsignore graduated from St. Louis University in 2010 with a Specialist in Administration and Educational Leadership degree and in 2012 finished his Doctor of Education degree (Ed.D) with an emphasis in Educational Leadership and Superintendent Certification. In 2005, Dr. Bonsignore completed his Master of Music degree in Conducting from the American Band College at Southern Oregon University. While at SOU, Bonsignore was the featured trumpet soloist on numerous concerts as well as the preparatory conductor for Colonel Bourgeois. Some of the influential teachers he had an opportunity to learn from while at ABC include Francis McBeth, Johan De Meij, Colonel John Bourgeois, Alan Vizzutti, Patrick Sheridan and Dr. Tim Lautzenheiser. In 1999, Dr. Bonsignore received his BS in Instrumental Music Education from Northwest Missouri State University. During his time at Northwest, Bonsignore served as section leader for the Bearcat Marching Band (BMB), principal trumpet in the Wind Symphony and lead trumpet in the Northwest Jazz Ensemble. Dr. Bonsignore was fortunate enough to study conducting under the baton of Alfred E. Sergel III, and has studied trumpet with Dr. Karl Sievers (OU), Dr. John Entzi (NWMSU), Dr. Keith Benjamin (UMKC), and especially his mentor and friend Mr. Charles Boyd (Park Hill South) who changed his fundamental approach to playing trumpet.
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, Central Missouri State, Kansas State, and Nebraska, and have marched in the DCI finalist groups Phantom Regiment, Madison Scouts, Boston Crusaders and the Blue Devils.
Bonsignore has held various leadership positions at the district level. Currently he is President-Elect of the Northwest District of MMEA, and has also served as Vice President for Jazz for the Northwest District of MMEA as well as holding the position of High School Bands Vice-President. Dr. Bonsignore's professional affiliations include MSTA, MMEA, MOAJE, JEN, Phi Beta Mu, Phi Mu Alpha, Kappa Kappa Psi and the NafME.
Bonsignore currently resides in Platte City with his beautiful wife Cheri, a third-grade teacher at Compass Elementary in the Platte County School District, his two sweet daughters Adelaide, a Freshman at PCHS and Camryn, a 4th grader at Compass Elementary, his double-doodle puppy Dottie May, and his two gorgeous kitties - Persian Stella , Seal Point Himalayan Seeley, and the newest edition Calico kitten Penny.