Simeon Bellison, clarinet virtuoso, was born in Moscow on Sept. 4, 1881. He showed musical talent at an early age and began studying the clarinet at nine with his father. A year later, he played in the Voluntary Fireman's Band, which his father conducted, and in several military bands. At eleven, he was heard by the late Wassily Safonoff, former conductor of the New York Philharmonic Orchestra, who was then director of the Imperial Conservatory in Moscow. Safonoff placed the young musician in the clarinet class of Prof. Joseph Friedrich. Seven years later, Mr. Bellison was graduate with honors and a degree of Bachelor of Music which is the highest degree obtainable for music in his native country. He began teaching the clarinet in some of the leading schools in Moscow and became first clarinetist of the opera and symphony orchestras there. For the thirteen years of this period he took part in the presentation of many operas, operettas and ballets.
In 1908 Mr. Bellison toured northern Europe with a chamber music organization. In 1915, he won the coveted post of first clarinetist in the orchestra of the St. Petersburg Imperial Opera, which was the goal of every orchestra musician in Russia.
In 1902 Mr. Bellison organized the Moscow Quintet and gave a series of concerts throughout Russia, Poland and Latvia. In 1918 when musical activities were at a standstill in Russia, he organized a second ensemble in St. Petersburg. He named the group "Zimro," and under the flag of the Russian Zionist Organization, started a pilgrimage throughout the world. During its three years of activity, the ensemble played in the Urals, Altay, all the large Siberian cities, China, Japan, India, Canada, and the United States.