Violin-playing truckie Kornel Banvolgyi delivers music to aged care residents

The 72-year-old Brisbane virtuoso delivers food for aged care provider Bolton Clarke, dropping off meals to Brisbane aged care communities. 

And the accomplished violinist and recording artist also shares the gift of music, putting on performances and concerts for residents along the way.

“Playing for and entertaining our residents gives me great joy and satisfaction,” said Kornel, who is a classically trained violinist.

“I played a Christmas carols concert at Tantula Rise, Alexandra Headlands last year and all the residents sang along.”

Born in Budapest, Hungary, in 1946 he started learning violin at eight, but his studies were interrupted by the Hungarian uprising in 1956.

Kornel escaped with his parents to Austria and then Australia, where they arrived in 1957.

In 1960 his parents bought him a handcrafted Yakimoff violin and he took up lessons again, earning a place at the prestigious Sydney Conservatorium of Music. 

It was years later, while working as a truck driver in Sydney Kornel developed an interest in country music and played in the bluegrass band Roadapple.

The band went on to win first place in its category at Tamworth Country Music Awards and also recorded an album. Meanwhile Kornel went on the play in various country bands around Sydney.

He then moved to Brisbane in 2010 and started work with Bolton Clarke Central Catering the following year, delivering food to residential communities from the Gold Coast to the Sunshine Coast. 

In 2014 he started busking and playing solo, and that led to recitals at Bolton Clarke residential communities he visited on his delivery routes, starting with Cazna Gardens in the southern Brisbane suburb of Sunnybank Hills.

And for now it seems his audiences can’t get enough of Kornel, who says he will not be putting on the brakes to his performing career just yet.

“I look forward to continuing to drive and entertain in our communities,” said Kornel.