Last summer, as Dorothy Barnhart settled into her new home near Southington High School, she learned that music was in the air, literally. As the artistic director, conductor and founder of Chorale Connecticut, Barnhart has an ear for music. And the sounds from SHS music groups convinced her there was much talent among students.

She and her friend, Jeff Shaw, SHS band director, realized a collaborative concert between Chorale Connecticut and the school’s jazz band could be a winning arrangement for everyone involved: the professional chorale group could provide a unique learning opportunity and the jazz ensemble would add something different to the 2009 spring concert.

The result is “Of Thee We Sing,” which will be performed Saturday, May 9, 7:30 p.m., at First United Methodist Church, 159 E. Main St., Meriden. The concert embraces the patriotic theme featuring a choral medley of George M. Cohen songs, as well as “Battle Hymn of the Republic,” “America the Beautiful” and “In Flanders Field” followed by World War II favorites such as “Don’t Sit Under the Apple Tree.”

The patriotic program will open with the presentation of colors by Marines from C Company, 1^st Battalion, 25^th Regiment, 4^th Marine Division while the chorale performs “My Country, ’Tis of Thee.” The SHS Jazz Band will perform four selections and select student musicians will accompany the chorale on several pieces including a Civil War medley. Boy Scouts from Troop 5 in Meriden will also bear flags during the “Armed Forces Salute.”

Organizing and rehearsing for the concert have been big undertakings, said Barnhart and Shaw. “It’s been hard to collaborate,” Shaw said. “But we are always looking for new opportunities for the jazz band.”

Since she founded Connecticut Chorale in 1995, Barnhart has become familiar with the musical talent at the high school. Each year, several students are invited to apprentice with the group. This year, Southington apprentices are Andy Goldstein, Jamie Mierzejewski, who is also in the jazz ensemble, and Katie Connellan. Other Southington residents who are members of the group are Carol Calladine and Flora Sitnik. This year there are 53 members, nine of which are additional apprentices from Cheshire, Meriden and Wallingford. “They keep us young, they delight us,” Barnhart said.

Barnhart said she is quite impressed with the jazz ensemble. “They are marvelous; disciplined, very good, learn fast, very respectful, very professional. I’m excited,” she said.

Ticket prices are $18 in advance and $20 at the door. Seniors’ tickets (65 and older) are $15 and children 12 and younger will be admitted free with a donation of a canned good for the town food pantry. Tickets may be purchased form chorale members or from JC Music, 519 W. Man St., Meriden; Valencia Liquor Shop, Ames Plaza, Meriden; Gallagher Travel, 390 Center St., Wallingford; Just For You Country Gifts, Route 322, Southington; and the Veterans Service Center, 45 S. Main St., Wallingford. A reception at Augusta Curtis Cultural Center will follow the concert.

For more information, visit the chorale Web site www.choralect.org or call Holly Wishart, Chorale Connecticut president, at (203) 237-5684.