Violinist Simon Bilyk maintains a varied freelance career in Connecticut and across New England. In addition to his position with the Hartford Symphony he is a member of the New Haven and Eastern Connecticut Symphonies. Simon is also the principal second violinist of the Bangor Symphony (in Maine) where he grew up and heard his first live orchestra. Simon earned his degrees from Oberlin Conservatory (B.M.) and Purchase College (M.M.), where he studied with Milan Vitek and Laurie Smukler. He plays on a violin made by Raymond Melanson in 2006. Simon repairs and restores bows (see his work at simonsbows.com) and enjoys refereeing youth soccer.