Novi Sad Jewish Community Choir "Hashira"

The Novi Sad Jewish Community Choir “Hashira” (hashira means “the song”) was founded in 1993, and since then it has been dedicated to cherishing the Jewish synagogal and folklore musical heritage. However, the choir performs almost every kind of choral music, singing in several languages (Hebrew, Yiddish, Ladino, Serbian, Spanish, and others). It has won several awards at both local and international festivals (Slovakia Cantat 2009, Prague 2010, Bijeljina in Bosnia and Herzegovina 2012). The choir has held numerous concerts all over Serbia, Hungary, Germany, Slovakia, the Czech Republic and Israel. The best qualities of this ensemble are the national and religious diversity of the members. The choir is currently conducted by Vesna Kesic Krsmanovic.

Vesna Kesic Krsmanovic studied composition with Enriko Josif and conducting with Stanko Sepic at the Music Academy in Belgrade, and attended conducting master classes in Siena (Italy) and Hungary (Bartok Seminary). She won several awards at festivals and competitions for young musicians in categories for orchestra and choirs, and with Hashira she received a special award for conducting in Slovakia (2009). For more than 20 years she has been conducting The Opera Choir of Serbian National Theater (Novi Sad) and since 2005, Hashira.

Although the town of Novi Sad is mainly known as The Exit Festival site, it is, above all, a lovely multicultural and multiethnic center and the capital of North Serbian province of Vojvodina.