Alumnus Wins 2026 Christian Worldview Film Festival Scoring Competition

For some musicians, the journey begins with years of lessons. For Nic Dysert, it began with a moment of wonder while playing a video game and hearing a musical score that made him want to create music of his own. 

That moment eventually led Dysert, a 2023 music composition graduate of Cedarville University, to win the 2026 Christian Worldview Film Festival Film Scoring Competition. The competition recognizes rising Christian composers who demonstrate the ability to craft compelling scores for movies. 

Christian Worldview Film Festival Encourages Filmmakers Through Biblical Storytelling 

The Christian Worldview Film Festival is an annual event designed to encourage filmmakers and film enthusiasts through training, networking and screenings rooted in a biblical worldview. Past festival honors have included recognizable Christian films such as 2017 best feature film recipient “Champion,” starring 2001 Cedarville University graduate Andrew Cheney. 

Nic Dysert Has Built Experience in Film Composition and Sound Design 

As a composer and sound designer, Dysert has worked on multiple film projects, including “Dear Mr. President: The Letters of Julia Sand,” produced by the Competitive Enterprise Institute, which won best documentary feature at the Anthem Film Festival. 

A Childhood Interest in Video Game Music Sparked a Calling to Compose 

Dysert, who has been creating music since he was 12, still remembers the moment when music first came alive to him. “I recall it was like seeing a new color for the first time,” said Dysert. “I felt something brand-new from that music, and I suddenly wanted to chase that feeling — I looked up who the composer was, and I decided I wanted the same program he used to produce his music.” 

But money was tight for his parents, who were missionaries to Spain raising four children. The program was expensive, and it seemed unlikely that they would be able to afford it. Still, just one year later, Dysert was creating music. Although his parents never were able to purchase the program, Dysert said the Lord opened doors for him to receive it for free. 

Soon after, his parents purchased a piano, and Dysert realized he did not need to be able to read music to play. He set out to learn songs by ear and soon was improvising at least three pieces a day. 

Cedarville University Helped Strengthen His Music and Faith 

When he began searching for a university music composition program, Dysert knew he wanted to attend a school where he could grow both musically and spiritually. 

“Pursuing music was risky for a number of reasons,” said Dysert. “I knew I could completely lose myself in it, and if I wasn’t careful, God could just as easily fade away. Cedarville gave me the solid music education I needed with God at the forefront the whole time.” 

Cedarville Training Prepared Nic Dysert for Professional Recognition 

Hours spent mastering his technique in practice rooms, composing music in computer labs and receiving feedback from recitals paid off for Dysert. Today, that feedback looks slightly different. 

“This award has been a reminder of my own capabilities as a composer,” said Dysert. “It’s good to have those moments to check in and make sure you haven’t lost your touch.” 

As Dysert grows as a composer, he hopes to use his storytelling abilities to create meaningful moments for audiences. 

About Cedarville University 

Cedarville University, an evangelical Christian institution in southwest Ohio, offers undergraduate and graduate residential and online programs across arts, sciences and professional fields. With 7,265 students, it is among Ohio's largest private universities and is ranked among the nation’s top five evangelical universities in the Wall Street Journal’s 2026 Best Colleges in the U.S. Cedarville is also known for its vibrant Christian community, challenging academics and high graduation and retention rates. Learn more at cedarville.edu.