The Novi Sad Jewish Community Choir "Hashira" (Hebrew word "hashira" means "the song") was founded in 1993 and since than it has been dedicated to cherish Jewish synagogue and folklore music heritage. However, the choir performs almost every kind of choral music, singing in several languages (Hebrew, Yiddish, Ladino, Serbian, Spanish...). It has won numerous awards at local and international festivals (Slovakia Cantat 2009; Prague 2010; Bijeljina in Bosnia and Herzegovina 2012; In Canto sul Garda, Italy 2013; 13th International Choir Competition “Antonio Vivaldi”, Greece 2015; 10th International Johannes Brahms Choir Festival and Competition, Germany 2017). The main quality of this ensemble is variety of its members with different national and religious backgrounds. In 2016 Choir of the Jewish Community of Novi Sad, in competition with 22 individuals and institutions received the Medal for Cultural Preservation of the Cultural Institute of Vojvodina.

Conductor Vesna Kesic Krsmanovic studied composition with Enriko Josif and conducting with Stanko Šepic at the Music Academy in Belgrade, and attended the conducting master classes in Siena (Italy) and Hungary (Bartok Seminary). For more than 20 years she has been conducting The Opera Choir of Serbian National Theatre (Novi Sad) and since 2004. – "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. Novi Sad is also a big university and cultural center. This year Novi Sad is a Capital of European culture.