While playing as principal in the London Symphony Orchestra, Marriner (born 1924) founded the Academy of St. Martin in the Fields in 1959, and from the concertmaster's seat as director of the ensemble he gravitaded towards conducting. Although the majority of his opera and symphonic performances and recordings are with the Academy of St. Martin in the Fields, one of the most comprehensively recorded chamber orchestras in the world, he works consistently with the major orchestras throughout the world. Sir Neville has twice been honoured for his services to music. In 1979, he was made a Commander of the Order of the British Empire and in 1985 he received a Knighthood. In addition, he has been awarded the 'Ordre des Arts et Lettres' in 1995 by the French Ministry of Culture for his outstanding lifelong commitment to French cultural life.