After two years, she returned to Poland to finish a Masters Degree in Music, completed with honours. While studying, Maria successfully auditioned for a 2nd violin chair with the Polish Rundfunk Orchestra-Katowice, where she worked during her post-graduation period.

In 1977, Maria was invited to audition for the position of a Principal 2nd violin in the Nuernberg Philharmonic Orchestra, which she won and held for two years. She was then invited to take part in the international audition for a concertmaster position with a Minas Gerais Symphony Orchestra-Brazil.

Winning that audition, Maria moved with her family to Brazil for the next 8 years. Maria worked as a concertmaster in Belo Horizonte as well as guest concertmaster in Municipal Theatre in Rio de Janeiro in the ballet season with the Bolshoi Ballet where she gave solo performances with Brazilian orchestras, as well as leading chamber ensembles.

In 1983 Maria was appointed Professor of violin at the Federal University of M.G, Brazil where she worked until immigrating to Australia at the end of 1986. In 1987, Maria successfully auditioned for a 2nd violin position with the Sydney Symphony. This year marks Maria’s twentieth anniversary with the Sydney Symphony.

Maria Durek. Photo by Keith Saunders

Stan Wojciech Kornel. Photo by Keith Saunders

Stan Wojciech Kornel has been playing with Sydney Symphony for 19 years. Born in Canberra, Stan Kornel started his violin studies at the age of nine with renowned French violinist Josette Esquidin-Morgan and later with Ernest Llewelyn at the Canberra School of Music. At 12, Stan formed with his elder siblings the Kornel String Quartet, performing in Canberra and Sydney.

From 1969 to 1983 Stan studied music at the Bydgoszcz Conservatorium of Music and later at the Academy of Music in Lodz (Poland). During those years he participated in Violin Competitions and Music Camps: Henryk Wieniawski International Young Violinist, where he received a bronze medal, Pomerania Violin Competition (2nd place), International Music Camp in Umea (Sweden) performing as concertmaster and in concert with Oslo Trio; Jeunesses Musicale World Youth Orchestra in London and Fribourg (Switzerland).

During his studies he received a full time position as assistant concertmaster of Pomeranian Philharmonic Orchestra, The Torun Chamber Orchestra as leader and soloist, and later as associate concertmaster of the TV and Radio Symphony Orchestra in Lodz. At the same time Stan formed a chamber orchestra performing prohibited works of Polish dissident composer - Sir Andrzej Panufnik.

In 1983, Stan received his Master of Arts Degree and Diploma with Distinction studying with internationally acclaimed Professor Zenon Ploszaj-Rector of Academia of Music in Lodz and juror at International Violin Competitions.

Stan also recorded many tracks for movies, animation and educational films with numerous ensembles.

From 1983-1985 Stan resumed his position with Torun Chamber Orchestra and was appointed for senior lecturer position at the string department of the Torun Conservatorium of Music.

From 1985, Stan moved to Italy where he worked in Opera Theatres such as La Scala in Milan, Symphony and Opera Orchestra La Fenice in Venice with Eliahu Imbal and in Verona Amphitheatre during the famous Summer Festival. During that period he formed two string quartets, performed Vivaldi Concertos at the famous Vivaldi's Church Della Pieta and taught on Lido several postgraduate students.

In August 1987 Stan returned to Australia where he worked with the Sydney Symphony, ACO and AOBO. In 1988 Stan became a permanent member of the Sydney Symphony with whom he is working to this present day.

During these last sixteen years Stan has been very active as a musician and teacher (Head of String) - Australian International Conservatorium of Music; Sydney Conservatorium of Music; International Grammar School in Ultimo; private teaching on violin and viola, violin coaching with the SYO, SSO Playerlink and master classes in Canberra School of Music and in NSW as well in Torun Conservatorium of Music.

In Australia, Stan performed with Sydney Bach Ensemble, Bicentenary Trio, Gallery Players Ensemble (mainly contemporary music), VI Brandenburg Concerto on viola with the Queensland Symphony Orchestra, gave a violin recital at the Canberra School of Music and Sydney Conservatorium of Music with works of K.Szymanowski and recently in the new Verbrugghen Hall Stan presented and promoted successfully Polish Chamber Music through the cycle titled "8 Centuries of Polish Music", performed with baroque specialists and his colleagues from the Sydney Symphony.

Stan is also interested in the baroque violin and viola d'amore. He studied both these instruments in London with Ms Catherine MacIntosh and in The Hague with Mr Sigiswald Kuijken. In 1996, Stan founded an early music ensemble "The Sydney Consort" www.sydneyconsort.com.au, performing extensively and regularly recording for ABC with wide range of repertoire. Later this year his group will launch their first CD and tour NSW with concerts for Musica Viva. Next year Stan with his baroque ensemble will perform in music festivals in Poland, Italy and Germany.

Stan Kornel recorded a number of CD's, mostly with Australian music by Dulcie Holland, Derek Strahan, Allan Holley among others.