LEWISTON – Women in Harmony, a chorus of women’s voices dedicated to the power of music to further social justice, will perform Saturday and Sunday, May 10-11.

The ensemble will present “How Can I Keep from Singing,” a concert of choral music at 7 p.m. Saturday at State Street Church in Portland and at 2 p.m. Sunday at the Franco-American Heritage Center.

This season’s concerts will once again be led by Music Director Catherine Beller-McKenna, with piano accompaniment by Deana Ingraham Gurney.

“How Can I Keep from Singing,” the concert’s title song, expresses Women in Harmony’s reason for being – a passion for singing and the commitment to make the world a better place through music.

The title song will be the chorus’ first performance of Gwyneth Walker’s rousing version of this well-loved Quaker hymn. Other concert highlights include Holly Near’s spirited abolitionist update,”The New Underground Railroad;” Libby Roderick’s “When I Hear Music” in an arrangement commissioned especially for Women in Harmony; Quincy Jones’ “What Good is a Song;” and “To Be Strong,” a stirring anthem celebrating life and pride in the age of AIDS.

In addition, the chorus will premiere an arrangement of Layne Redmond’s “Hymn to the Muse” by accompanist Deana Ingraham Gurney and a piece by former Women in Harmony soprano Erica Quin-Easter, “All Creation Started with a Song.”

Both performances will celebrate Mother’s Day (May 11) with Near’s “A Thousand Grandmothers” and “Mother’s Prayer,” a moving plea for peace by Canadian folk singer Connie Kaldor.

Sunday’s concert will mark Women in Harmony’s first Lewiston performance.

Tickets for Saturday’s performance are $12 in advance, $15 at the door; $10 for seniors and students with ID; and children under 12, free. They are available at Nonesuch Books in South Portland, Porte4 in the Old Port, Longfellow Books at Monument Square and Starbird Music on Forest Avenue in Portland, or from any chorus member.

Ticket prices for Sunday’s performance are $15 general admission, $13 for students and seniors. They can be purchased by calling the Franco-American Heritage Center box office at 689-2000 or at the box office at 46 Cedar St.

For more information on Women in Harmony, log on to www.wihmaine.org or e-mail wihmaine@gwi.net.

For more on Sunday’s performance, visit www.francoamericanheritage.org or call 783-1585.