Dash Wilson’s Musical Odyssey: Award-Winning Compositions and the Story Behind “Steps into the Mouse’s Lair”
- WOMCO
- 8m
- 7 min read
Since 2023, Chicago-based young composer, oboist, and pianist Dash Wilson has earned many awards in multiple WOMCO competitions, steadily gaining recognition for his inventive compositions and expressive performances. Most recently, he was awarded the Platinum Prize in the Young Artist category at the 2025 Season 3 World Grand Prix International Music Contest for his imaginative work Steps into the Mouse's Lair (competition held from May 28 to August 28, 2025, with results announced in September). These honors reflect not only his musical talent but also the dedication and curiosity that drive him to explore new sounds and ideas. In the interview that follows, Dash shares his musical journey, the inspirations behind his compositions, and how his creative process has evolved as he continues to grow as a young musician.
Could you tell us a bit about yourself and your journey in music, for example the schools you’ve studied at, the teachers who have guided you, and how long you’ve been studying, as well as your goals for the future?
Dash Wilson:
"I have no memory of this, but before I could walk, as my parents tell the story, I would 'army-crawl' toward a toy keyboard. By age three, my parents bought a used piano for our tiny apartment for $200, and since then, music has been a daily companion, with lessons, family sing-alongs, and school bands.
In fifth grade, I joined the middle school band and learned oboe. My director Jason Freeland encouraged me to audition for the Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestra (CYSO) and I got in as an eighth grader and continued to audition/advance each year.
I’m a senior in high school now, and I perform as oboist and English horn player for CYSO-Symphonic, directed by Allen Tinkham and as well as the CYSO Chamber Wind Quintet coached by Zachary Good and Ben Roidl-Ward.
I also serve as first chair oboe for my high school Victor J. Andrew High School’s Wind Symphony and play piano for the Jazz Ensemble, both directed by Mark Iwinski. Studying and performing more than sixty orchestral works with different ensembles has strengthened my musical fluency and inspires my creativity.
Composition became a focus through the CYSO Composition Seminar with Eric Malmquist. I also pursue independent studies in composition and music theory with Dr. Mario Pelusi, who is a USC and Princeton alumnus and emeritus dean of the School of Music at Illinois Wesleyan University.
My first composition, Sweet Lemon, debuted December 2022 and was performed in a live reading by 5th Wave Collective. Being in a class with other young composers is very supportive. Getting feedback from professional performers and hearing your piece played is a wonderful learning experience. The following spring, I submitted and won my first WOMCO Award through the Royale International Contest, which was very encouraging and made me think more seriously about pursuing a music degree in college.
During the summer, I have more time to focus on composing. In 2023, I studied digital audio workstation composition with Shane Adams through Interlochen’s online courses. Last summer (2024), I participated in master classes with Hollywood composers Pinar Toprak and Harry Gregson-Williams, with coaching from Gordy Haab and Ryan Shore through Berklee College of Music in Los Angeles, which was very exciting. Fun Fact: Pinar Toprak and I discovered we share something in common – the same exact jazz piano teacher!
My college goal is to pursue an interdisciplinary degree in both music composition and computer science. I love music and also enjoy coding, and hope to find a career that blends both."
Could you tell us more about your award-winning composition Steps into the Mouse's Lair? For instance, what inspired it, what message you hoped to convey, and what your creative process was like? How did you approach shaping the structure and dynamics of the piece?
Dash Wilson:
"When I wrote Steps into the Mouse’s Lair, I imagined a team of spies entering a secret facility known only as the Mouse’s Lair. They climb steps toward a vast, cave-like opening. Who or what is the Mouse? Is it a mutant, machine, or villain? Inside they might find the hum of machinery or a secret laboratory. A sense of mystery drives the music. The idea came to me, and I wrote it very quickly, in one afternoon.
Written for a small ensemble of eight instruments, the piece is an homage to the playful wit of Mancini’s Pink Panther and to modern works that echo that 1960s style, such as John Williams’s Catch Me If You Can. Other influences include Williams’s Rey’s Theme (for its effective use of celesta), Dan Romer’s Final Question from Maniac, and Randy Newman’s Monsters Inc.
It begins with an apprehensive flute line, followed by pizzicato bass and piano that create a tip-toe rhythm while the shaker adds quiet tension. A cat-and-mouse game unfolds with a peek-a-boo interplay between instruments. Flute and celesta pair briefly before the saxophone, clarinet, and winds join the chase. Saxophone and clarinet trade phrases with the full ensemble in a climactic ending. At just two minutes, the structure is compact, moving through curiosity, pursuit, tension, and release."
What does a typical day of composing or studying music look like for you, and in what ways has your family supported your passion for composition? How do you balance your time between creative work and schoolwork?
Dash Wilson:
"My days are a mix of school, rehearsals, and composing. I am taking several AP and college-level courses in math and computer science. Sundays are almost entirely devoted to the Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestra, so evenings or Saturdays are when I usually compose. Sometimes those evenings stretch into the wee hours, when the house is silent. Admittedly, it’s not always perfectly 'balanced.' My latest work, Nightshade, is named for the night-blooming plant because so many of my compositions blossom and grow after dark. Nightshade will premiere with a live performance in Spring 2026.
My family is creative and resourceful. They find amazing opportunities, from free harp lessons at a harp factory to summer programs like the one at Berklee, grants, and scholarships. They encourage me to audition and inspire me to stretch beyond my comfort zone. Their dedication, commitment, belief, and love make my musical journey possible.
Would you like to share your experience participating in our competition and anyone you'd like to thank?
Dash Wilson:
"Participating in WOMCO has been a great experience, and I encourage all my musician friends to send in their work. It is exciting to be part of a global community, with listeners around the world. Feedback from judges in competitions such as the London Young Musicians is especially valuable and offers insights about areas where I can improve and grow as a composer.
I am grateful for the chance to share my compositions and oboe performances through this platform. Competitions motivate me with deadlines that push me to finish work and keep striving for excellence.
I would especially like to thank my mentor Dr. Mario Pelusi, as well as my jazz teacher Laura Hoffman and music director Mark Iwinski, who commissioned a work for live performance. I feel incredibly lucky to have worked with Shane Adams, Gordy Haab, and Ryan Shore, Zachary Good, and Ben Roidl-Ward. I am also thankful to the Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestra for giving me a community of musicians who are great friends and who inspire me to improve every week. I will always be grateful to my oboe teacher Cassie Urlaub and especially to Jessica Coe, who gently nurtured me as a young piano student at the tender age of three. She made music fun. Most of all, I am thankful for my family’s endless encouragement, curiosity, and support. I want to thank my Pop Pop and Nana for coming to my concerts and cheering me on. My family makes it possible for me to study, compose, and dream bigger with every piece I write. There are too many people to thank, so I have a page dedicated to gratitude on my website, dashwilson.com/thanks
Biography
Dash Wilson is a composer, oboist, and pianist from Chicago. His musical journey began with piano lessons at age three and grew to include harp, oboe, and flute. He currently serves as first chair oboe for the Victor J. Andrew High School Wind Symphony, performs with the Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestra, Symphonic (CYSO-SO) directed by Allen Tinkham and CYSO chamber ensembles. He also plays piano for the VJA Jazz Ensemble.
Dash began composing through the CYSO Composition Seminar, directed by Eric Malmquist, and studies independently with Dr. Mario Pelusi. His mentors include Shane Adams, Pinar Toprak, Harry Gregson-Williams, Ryan Shore, Gordy Haab, and the late Robert W. Smith. His works have been performed by 5th Wave Collective and CYSO, and he will debut a new composition with the VJA Wind Symphony in 2026 called Nightshade.
Dash has earned sixteen international music awards competitions as a young composer, was named Artist of the Year 2023 by the International Youth Music Competition, and received recognition as an Illinois Young Composer in 2025.
Find out about Dash Wilson’s upcoming performance: https://www.dashwilson.com/performances