In addition to currently serving as a tenured violinist with the Billings Symphony Orchestra, Michael was recently appointed as Conductor of the Billings Symphony Youth Orchestra Repertory Orchestra. As a violinist he has performed with most of the ensembles in the Montana region, including Helena Symphony, Bozeman Symphony, Great Falls Symphony, Butte Symphony, Big Sky Strings, Big Sky Classical Music Festival Orchestra, and the Montana Ballet Company Orchestra. With a career in music spanning over two decades, Mr. Mleko is also a teacher and orchestra director with the Billings Public Schools, as well as the former Assistant Conductor of the Helena Symphony Orchestra. He earned his undergraduate and graduate degrees from Montana State University, in addition to studying with noted violinists Carrie Krause, Angella Ahn, and Stephen Cepeda, as well as noted conductors Ovidiu Marinescu and Allan R. Scott.