Flower Mound Community Orchestra was established in 1994 to provide area residents a vehicle for the performance and enjoyment of classical music.
Our mission is threefold:
1) Promote classical music and cultural awareness in the Town of Flower Mound and the surrounding community through presentation of musical programs for the benefit of the community
2) Provide an opportunity for area musicians to perform and develop their skills in a volunteer organization.
3) Encourage and instruct musicians of all ages in the art of orchestral music through participation in various ensembles created by and sponsored by the FMCO.
The FMCO is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization and is supported via grants and donations from the Town of Flower Mound, local businesses and individuals.
There are two ensembles for musicians of all ages and varying levels of proficiency – Flower Mound Symphony Orchestra and Flower Mound Philharmonic Orchestra.
The orchestras consist of musicians from Flower Mound, Highland Village, Lewisville, and other Dallas/Fort Worth area communities. These musicians volunteer their time and considerable talents for the benefit of cultural awareness in the community and for their own enjoyment of playing in an ensemble. The orchestra may also supplement its make-up with paid professional musicians, as necessary. Membership in the orchestras is accomplished through audition and fees may apply to the Phil due to the instructional nature of this group.
The ensembles performance literature is comprised of music of multiple genres in a classical setting, including pop, jazz, classical, choral and ballet. This could include traditional music from other countries or new music. Soloists are often included in concert programs.
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Dr. Paul Gregory Bonneau
September 13, 1962 – March 31, 2013
Dr. Paul Bonneau was the founder of the Flower Mound Community Orchestra. He acted as the Music Director for the Flower Mound Symphony Orchestra from 1996 to 2013. With Bachelor, Master, and Doctor of Music degrees in composition from the University of North Texas, he enjoyed a career conducting, composing, and teaching. He began conducting in the late 1980’s with the production of his original works for concert hall and modern dance.
Dr. Bonneau supervised the FMCO’s growth to include the Symphony Orchestra and the founding of its two educational orchestras: the Preparatory Orchestra (founded in 1997) and the Progressive Orchestra (founded in 2001).
Dr. Bonneau’s compositions include works for film, television, dance, orchestra and all manner of acoustic ensembles and solos. They have been performed throughout eastern and central Europe, England, Canada, and the United States, including Carnegie Hall and the Juilliard School.
Dr. Bonneau was the founder and Music Director for the Chancel Orchestra of Trietsch Memorial United Methodist Church in Flower Mound from 1999-2010. His orchestral arrangements of hymns and anthems are still performed weekly by the Chancel Choir.
In addition to teaching private piano lessons, Dr. Bonneau held teaching positions at North Lake College, Richland College, The University of North Texas, and Tarleton State University. He taught courses in Music Composition, Orchestration, Instrumentation, Music Theory, Musicianship, Music Appreciation and String Orchestra.
Dr. Bonneau enjoyed reading, visiting with friends, practicing yoga and rock climbing. He was a talented director and composer, an incredible musician, a colleague and a friend to the members and board of the FMCO. He was the soul and creative energy behind FMCO, and he is dearly missed.
Esteban Rojas was the Music Director for the Flower Mound Symphony Orchestra from 2014 to 2024. Born in San José de Costa Rica and raised in Colombia, Mr. Rojas is considered one of the most representative conductors in Latin America focusing his career on both professional, community and youth orchestras. Since his arrival to the US, Mr. Rojas has conducted Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra, Las Colinas Orchestra, Fort Worth Civic Orchestra and Sinfonietta of Fort Worth. In his native Colombia, Mr. Rojas has been invited to conduct the Colombia National Symphony Orchestra, Bogota Metropolitan Orchestra, EAFIT Symphony Orchestra, Cali Philharmonic Orchestra, Valle Symphony Orchestra, Tolima Symphony, and Cundinamarca Philharmonic Orchestra among others. As an educator, Mr. Rojas is strongly committed to the development of youth and college orchestras and has been invited to conduct the Youth Orchestra of Fort Worth, Lone Star Youth Orchestra, Youth Philharmonic of Fort Worth, and TCU Symphony Orchestra in USA. Mr. Rojas has been actively involved in Colombia’s major youth orchestra programs and conservatories including a long-term relationship with BATUTA (El Sistema second largest program in the world), Javeriana University, Valle Conservatory of Fine Arts, Valle University, RED de Escuelas de Medellin, and Valle Youth Symphony. Mr. Rojas holds Bachelor of Music in Orchestral Conducting degree from the Pontificia Universidad Javeriana and a Master’s Degree in Orchestral Conducting from Texas Christian University. Among his teachers are Miguel Harth-Bedoya, David Mackenzie, German Gutierrez, and Victor Yampolski among others.
Board of Directors
Officers
David Elias, President
Eric Edwards, Vice President
Jim Hatcher, Treasurer
Leandra Edwards, Secretary
Members at Large
Bill Daniluk
Barbara Ann D’Angelo
John D’Angelo
Ralph Hartsock
Michael Lively
Doug Wolfe
Emeritus Members
Jack Balderson
Thomas Williams