Violinist and conductor Iona Brown (1941-2004) was a regular performing member of the Academy of St. Martin in the Fields since the 1960s. In 1974 Sir Neville Marriner offered her the leadership as artistic director. Both Marriner and Brown enyoyed an international career that spanned decades and have been invited to direct many of the world's leading ensembles. Iona Brown was awarded the 'Order of the British Empire' in 1986 and the 'Knight of First Class Order of Merit' in Norway in 1991 (for her work with the Norwegian Chamber Orchestra).