The Mozart Fellowship was established in 1969 to aid and encourage composers of music in the practice and advancement of their art, to associate them with the life of the University and to foster an interest in contemporary music within the University and in the community. The work of the Mozart Fellow may be performed in concert during their Fellowship year.
The annual, 12-month Fellowship provides a studio/office space and not less than the minimum salary of a fulltime university lecturer. It is open to composers who are normally resident in New Zealand who, in the opinion of the Selection Committee, have demonstrated their ability and talent, and the intention of pursuing a career in music, and would benefit from holding the Fellowship.
Applications for 2026 Otago Arts Fellowships are now open.
Apply for the Mozart Fellowship
See all Otago Arts Fellowships open for applications
See the list of all previous Mozart Fellowship recipients
The 2025 Mozart Fellow is Dr Simon Eastwood
Dr Simon Eastwood
Composer, musician and music educator Dr Simon Eastwood was the 2024 Mozart Fellow, and the University is pleased to award him the Fellowship for another year.
“I have enjoyed my time in Ōtepoti thus far, exploring the musical vibrancy of the city and its people.
“I have also enjoyed being in contact with the other fellows. It is a pleasure to join a cohort of friendly and creative minds such as this,” Simon says.
This has led to wonderful opportunities for collaboration, including a performance installation with Caroline Plumber Fellow in Community Dance Marcela Giesche at the Dunedin Public Art Gallery.
As a composer, Simon has achieved a high level of international success, composing and working with renowned soloists and groups in the UK, USA, Europe and Australia.
in 2024, Simon wrote a soundtrack for an art piece by Lisa Munnelly which was shown in Leeds in June. He has also been composing material for a piano trio and a set of percussion pieces and is looking forward to starting new projects in 2025, including a new work for orchestra.
Simon is also an accomplished musician, primarily a bass player. While his formal training is in classical music, he has very diverse musical interests and he frequently performs in rock and folk groups, chamber ensembles, orchestras and as an improvising musician. He’s played jazz at Inch Bar with Will Martin and jammed with players from Strork, Alan Starrat’s improvising orchestra, alongside dancers brought together by Alison East.
The stability and flexibility of the Fellowship in 2024 enabled Simon to take up opportunities, including stepping in at late notice to produce some of the arrangements and conduct a three-hour operatic performance ‘The OGs’ for the Auckland Arts Festival in March. This saw him work with some of the biggest stars in New Zealand Opera on a successful show that played to an audience of thousands.
Interdisciplinary collaboration is a core feature of Simon’s practice. With the renewal of his Fellowship, he will pursue further collaborative projects and continue to develop his musical relationships in Dunedin.