Women in Harmony will present “On the Road,” a concert of choral music in celebration of journeys both geographical and personal on May 17 and 18. The concerts will be at Woodfords Congregational Church in Portland.

A central message of Women in Harmony’s mission is communicated in the lyrics of “Never Turning Back,”: “we’re gonna keep on walking forward, keep on singing proudly, work for change together, never turning back.”

The concert also features three movements from “flight,” a borderlands song cycle by Maine composer Erica Quin-Easter, addressing issues of migration and immigration which was premiered by Women in Harmony in 2011; Randall Thompson’s “Come In” is a setting of a Robert Frost poem about a wanderer in the woods; Journeys of the spirit are the subject of “Swimming to the Other Side, Swing Low, and Welcome the Stranger.”

The literal context of our theme is Women in Harmony’s trip to the Sister Singers Festival in July, where we will have the honor of performing selections from this program for a national audience.

Now in its 21st year, Women in Harmony is known for its innovative programs, including pieces from various cultures and styles, and joint performance with other arts organizations. Stressing musical excellence as well as accessibility, Women in Harmony welcomes women from a wide range of musical backgrounds. The group’s singing furthers an organizational mission of advocating for women and social justice.

Woodfords Congregational Church is located at 202 Woodford Street. The Saturday, May 17 show will be at 7 p.m. and at 4 p.m. on Sunday, May 18.

Tickets are $12 in advance and available at Longfellow Books, Starbird Music in Portland, and Nonesuch Books in South Portland, and on www.wihmaine.org.

in South Portland or via Women in Harmony’s website, General admission tickets at the door, $15.

Questions? Need more information? Call 207-522-5490.