Iona Brown facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Iona Brown
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Iona Brown playing as a violinist with Neville Marriner and the Academy of St Martin-in-the-Fields.
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| Born | 7 January 1941 |
| Died | 5 June 2004 (aged 63) |
| Nationality | British |
| Education | Cranborne Chase School |
| Alma mater | Open University (honorary Doctor) |
| Spouse(s) | Bjorn Arnils |
| Relatives | Timothy Brown (brother) |
Iona Brown (born January 7, 1941, died June 5, 2004) was a famous British musician. She was known for playing the violin and for leading orchestras as a conductor. She was also given an award called the OBE for her work.
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Early Life and Family
Elizabeth Iona Brown was born in Salisbury, England. She went to school at Cranborne Chase School in Dorset. Her parents, Antony and Fiona, were both musicians.
Music was a big part of her family. Her brother, Timothy, played the French horn for the BBC Symphony Orchestra. Her other brother, Ian, was a pianist. Her sister, Sally, played the viola in the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra.
Musical Career Highlights
Iona Brown started her career playing the violin. From 1963 to 1966, she played in the Philharmonia Orchestra. In 1964, she joined the Academy of St Martin in the Fields. She became a very important part of this group.
By 1974, she was the leader, solo violinist, and director of the Academy. Even after she officially left in 1980, she continued to work with them for many years.
Leading Orchestras
Iona Brown became a director for many orchestras around the world. In 1981, she became the artistic director of the Norwegian Chamber Orchestra. She was so successful that the King of Norway gave her a special award.
She also directed the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra from 1987 to 1992. Later, she returned to lead them again from 1995 to 1997. From 1985 to 1989, she was a guest director for the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra.
Shifting to Conducting
As she got older, Iona Brown developed arthritis. This made it harder for her to play the violin. So, she started to focus more on conducting. She stopped playing the violin in 1998. In her last years, she was the main conductor for the South Jutland Symphony Orchestra in Denmark.
Iona Brown lived in a village called Bowerchalke in England. She once talked about how the singing of larks she heard on walks helped her play her famous piece, The Lark Ascending.
Awards and Recognition
Iona Brown received several important awards. In 1986, she was made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE). This is a special honor given by the British Queen or King.
In June 2003, she was given an honorary Doctor degree by the Open University. This recognized her great achievements in music.
Later Life and Passing
Iona Brown passed away from cancer in 2004. She was 63 years old. She died in Salisbury, the same place she was born. She was married twice and was survived by her second husband, Bjorn Arnils.
Images for kids
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Iona Brown playing as a violinist with Neville Marriner and the Academy of St Martin-in-the-Fields.
See also
In Spanish: Iona Brown para niños
