[OMISSION]David Metzger’s compositions are most often formatted to fit into a film, not performed by musicians and singers before a live audience. The surround sound of THE MOVIE theater will be traded for a concert hall this winter when Willamette Master Chorus joined with Crossler and Judson Middle schools to perform a new five-movement composition.

Orchestrator of numerous film scores, including "Training Day," "Shooter" and "August Rush," the Salem-based Metzger was asked by Willamette Master Chorus’ director Dr. Paul Klemme to create a new piece for their holiday concert.

"It was an attractive proposition, as I had been thinking that it would be fun to write a work for choir for the past several years. I had heard the Willamette Master Chorus' wonderful performance of "Carmina Burana" that spring [of 2007] and knew that the group would be capable of performing anything I would want to write," Metzger said.

Accompaniment in the piece is a combination of piano, bass, drums, trumpet, violin, and soprano saxophone. The choirs from Crossler and Judson, under the direction of Jennifer Kercher and David Loney, each perform a separate set of holiday pieces.

"He’s created quite a name for himself in the community, but this is our first collaboration with Dave," choir member Keith Sandberg said.

This original composition, titled Willamette Winter Suite, is based on poems written by Crossler and Judson Middle School students.

"Students from Crossler and Judson Middle School were invited to submit their feelings about wintertime. Five students were chosen," Sandberg said.

Selected for the project was work created by Chandler Kirkegaard, who attends Judson, and Elise Koletar, who attends Crossler. Kelly Kenoyer, Anastasia Ruvimova, and Veronica Capehart, who all now attend Sprague High School, round out the group.

"I've been fluent in music for a long time (composing my first piece while in the 7th grade), but I ain't much good at writin’ ... " Metzger said. "In January of 2008 I was presented with five poems that had been selected as the cream of the crop. Paul asked me to read through them and give my impressions. They were all quite good.”

All five poems are the basis for each of the movements which Metzger named "During Winter," "Snow," "The Joy of Christmas," "Winter Waltz," and "Glazing Ice."

Each theme of the music has presented itself not only in the music but in the inclement weather that forced a cancellation and rescheduling of the show. The concerts originally slated for December 21 are rescheduled for 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. on January 4.

For those who cannot make it to the holiday concerts, Metzger's other recent work, which he has written while composing the Willamette Winter Suite, can be heard in the current theatrical release "Bolt" and in the upcoming Eddie Murphy flick "Nowhereland."