The Academy of St. Martin in the Fields was founded in 1959 by Sir Neville Marriner, then a violonist with the London Symphony Orchestra. Originally formed as a conductor-less string group specialising in Baroque music, the Academy has grown considerably in size, repertoire and reputation, and is now the world's most recorded chamber orchestra, playing music from the 1600s to the present day. The Academy has won a number of prestigious awards and a multitude of Gold Discs. The soundtrack to 'The English patient' won an Oscar for 'Best Original Dramatic Score and Sound'.