[3] In 2013, Martin Lodge, Associate Professor and Convenor of the Waikato University Music Programme described the Mozart Fellowship as "New Zealand's premiere composer residency, being the longest established, best paid and most prestigious with the list of past Fellows a veritable who's who of New Zealand composers".
[5] The Fellowship was established in 1969[2] and the first appointed Mozart Fellow was Anthony Watson.
Composers are also expected to spend the majority of their time based in Dunedin.
[citation needed] The appointed composer is paid a stipend which allows him or her to live and are given the freedom to work on projects of their own choice, although traditionally many recipients of the award have written compositions for performers within the University's Music Department or the city's orchestra Dunedin Symphony.
[7] A reunion of past and present fellowship holders was held at the university in 2007.