Choirs – Z’borke, Horkestar and Pop Hor Radio

The performances of the engaged choirs ‘Z’borke’ from Ljubljana, ‘Horkestar’ from Belgrade and ‘Pop Hor Radio’ from Novi Sad will be held on the stage in the passage near the bookstore Bulevar Books, on 12 June at 8 p.m. The concert will be organised as part of the closing ceremony of the ‘Autonomous Festival of Women’, which takes part within the ‘Heroines’ programme arch.

The autonomous, self-organised Feminist Choir ‘Z’borke’ was formed in Ljubljana in March 2014, as a response to the reproduction of sexist, misogynistic lyrics in traditional, popular and choral music in Slovenia. Since then, ‘Z’borke’ has opposed these tendencies by choosing feminist, emancipatory songs in various languages and from different cultures and ‘correcting’ sexist texts from the local opus.
‘Horkestar’ is a self-organised choir (choir + orchestra) from Belgrade. It was formed in 2006 by changing its name after the group Škart, which founded ‘Horkeškart’ in 2000, left the choir. ‘Horkeškart’ mostly traced the path that the ‘Horkestar’ still follows today.
‘Horkestar’ has retained part of the ‘Horkeškart’ repertoire, which consists of revolutionary and workers’ songs, but most of the songs are composed of verses by local poets and philosophers (Vasko Popa, Stanislav Vinaver, Slobodan Tišma, Duško Radović, Dr. Protić), arrangements of new-wave songs and punk bands (Šarlo Akrobata, Paraf, Dobri Isak, Obojeni program), as well as original songs by choir members.
The pop choir ‘RADIO’ was formed in October 2016. It consists of numerous singers of different generations, professions, and interests. So far, they have held numerous performances in Novi Sad and its surroundings, including a mini tour in Slovenia in December 2019.
They participated in the opening ceremony of the Egység Cultural station of the European Capital of Culture (ECoC 2021). They performed at festivals such as ‘Spring Fest Novi Sad’, ‘Novi Sad Night Market’, ‘Fruška Gora Marathon’, ‘Pikanterije’, ‘Night of Biology’, ‘Researchers’ Night’, ‘Remembrance Culture of Novi Sad’, ‘Time Machine’, ‘We Sing the Beatles’, CS Svilara, ‘Nišville Jazz Festival 2021’, ‘’’Kostoski’’ International Festival Ohrid – Macedonia 2022’. They proudly stress that they organised and participated in a large number of humanitarian actions, including events during which money was collected to help the organisations ‘Living Upright’ and ‘Heart’ and many people who needed help. It is an amateur choir, while the members are older than 30 years.  Their performances are energetic, and the repertoire includes pop, jazz, funky, rock, film and electronic music.

Check out the whole ‘Autonomous Festival of Women’ programme at this link.

Erste Bank is the partner of the Heroines programme arch.

Photo: Promo