GOOD OLD DAYS:

Women have been raising their voices in unison for years.

Sometimes, they’ve even done it musically.

The Orange County Women’s Chorus will feature arrangements honoring women in song over a 60-year period when the chorus performs its first concert of the season, “Sing It Sister!: Six Centuries of ‘Girl Groups’” this week at Newport Harbor Lutheran Church.

Led by artistic director Eliza Rubinstein, the group will “celebrate the power of women’s voices” with selections from groups such as Sweet Honey in the Rock, the Andrews Sisters and the Dixie Chicks.

In the fall of 1997, Mary Langsdorf and former choir director Raymond Egan met with fellow choir members from St. Paul’s Church in Tustin to discuss forming a local chorus.

That meeting in Langsdorf’s living room was the beginning of the Orange County Women’s Chorus, which began rehearsals at Newport Harbor Lutheran Church in early 1998.

Egan directed the 18-member group until Rubinstein took over in January of 2000.

The group has grown over the years to about 36 members.

The all women’s program will have something that will appeal to everybody, Langsdorf said, and the ladies have allowed a man or two to contribute.

One of the pieces the group will perform was written by Vivaldi for a group of young girls at an orphanage in Venice.

In 1703, Vivaldi was appointed master of violin at the Pio Ospedale della Pietà orphanage in Venice.

The most talented girls there became members of the Ospedale’s renowned orchestra and choir, with Vivaldi writing many of his concertos, cantatas and sacred music for them.

Rubinstein said she realizes that some people looking at the selections for the program might not understand why Vivaldi would be included in an “all-women’s program.”

One of the things unique about the group is the interaction Rubinstein has with the audience during performances, Langsdorf said.

“Her passion for and knowledge of the music is what makes this group’s concerts unique. The audience shares with us afterward how much they enjoy understanding the context of the pieces she chooses.”

The group is celebrating its 10th anniversary, and Rubinstein felt it was important to show the talent and diversity in women’s music over the years.

“We are trying to spotlight women composers because they’re so often neglected in the standard women’s chorus repertoire,” she said.

The performance, honoring the tradition of women singing together over the centuries, will also be “a totally fun experience for singers and audience members alike,” Langsdorf said.

IF YOU GO

WHAT: Orange County Women’s Chorus presents “Sing It Sister!: Six Centuries of ‘Girl Groups’”

WHEN: 7 p.m. Saturday; 3 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 2

WHERE: Newport Harbor Lutheran Church, 798 Dover Drive, Newport Beach

COST: $15 adults; $12 students with valid ID

INFO: Call (949) 451-8590 or go to www.ocwomenschorus.org

SUE THOENSEN may be reached at (714) 966-4627 or at sue.thoensen@latimes.com.