About Music Director Paul Bonneau

Photo by Henrietta Wildsmith

Paul Bonneau has been Music Director for the Flower Mound Symphony Orchestra since 1996, and since then has enjoyed a career equally divided between conducting and composing. He holds Bachelor, Master, and Doctor of Music degrees in composition from the College of Music at the University of North Texas, Denton. His conducting experience began in the late 1980's with the production of his original works for concert hall and modern dance. Since receiving the post of Music Director for the FMCO Dr. Bonneau has supervised its growth to include the Symphony Orchestra and the founding of its two affiliated educational orchestras. The FM Preparatory Orchestra (since 1997) and the FM Progressive Orchestra (since 2001) are unique in that their memberships include older children, youth and adult amateur members. This creative environment allows multi-generational families to participate together in performing ensembles.

Paul Bonneau compositions have included works for film, television, dance, orchestra and all manner of acoustic ensembles and solos. He has produced performances of his works in England, Canada, Germany, and the United States, including Carnegie Hall, the Juilliard School, and SUNY Stonybrook in New York.

His works that have been performed by the Flower Mound Symphony Orchestra are:

• Motet for Orchestra (1996)
• Amy Music, Three Reflections for Orchestra (1996)
• Cats N Dogs, A True Story (1997)
• What's the Hurry, Mr. Murry? (1998)
• Latin Mass for Choir, Orchestra, Soprano and Mezzo-Soprano Soloists (2002)
• Concertino for Orchestra (2003)
• American Dream: I Want to Rule the World (2006)
• Red Shift Effect: The Expanding Universe and Class Reunions (2008)

Recent commissions awarded to Dr. Bonneau include:

• Red Shift Effect: the Expanding Universe and Class Reunions. Commissioned by Paul Stuart, Music Director for the Equinox Symphony Orchestra (Rochester, NY); premiered with the composer conducting the ESO April 21, 2007.
• Sympathy for Dying Friend, for string orchestra. Commissioned by Sheldon Bair, Music Director for the Susquehanna Symphony Orchestra (MD), performed in June 2006, and May 2007.
• American Dream: I want to rule the world (for violin and orchestra). Commissioned in part by violinist Lewis Wong and The Greater Rochester Concert Outreach (NY), premiered by Mr. Wong and the FMSO March 4, 2006.
• Global Warming, or, I want to drive a Hummer and do my best to ruin the environment, a rant for unaccompanied violin. Premiered at Carnegie Hall, NY on October 30, 2005. Commissioned and performed by Lewis Wong.
• Fan Mail for the Common Man, two fanfares for Brass Quintet. Commissioned by Dan Cook and the brass quintet "Pistons, Rotors and Slides", premiered in November of 2004, in Flower Mound, Texas.
• Concerto for Two Horns and Orchestra commissioned by horn virtuosi Amy Stokes and Nancy Jarrett. (Performance date and location TBD).
• Concerto for Piano, Saxophones and Orchestra for pianist and saxophonist Michael and Christy Springer. (Performance date and location TBD).

Bonneau is also the founder and current Music Director for the Chancel Orchestra of Trietsch Memorial United Methodist Church in Flower Mound. His orchestral arrangements of hymns and anthems serve a congregation of four thousand and can be heard every Sunday during the 11:00 A.M. worship service.

In addition to his busy conducting and composing schedule, he is part time Adjunct Faculty at Tarleton State University where he conducts the Tarleton State Strings and teaches courses in composition.

He plays solo jazz piano; bass in his jazz trio "Prescription Jazz", and in the contemporary worship band "Reign" at Trietsch (during Sunday morning 9:30 services); and baroque harpsichord.

When not involved in music Bonneau enjoys his free time reading, visiting with friends and practicing yoga. And even though he thinks he might spontaneously combust, he probably won't.