Feminist Choir Z’borke was founded on March 9th, 2014 in Ljubljana. The name Z’borke is a wordplay – “zbor” meaning choir and “borke” female fighters. The choir took a huge step away from the traditional Slovene choral scene by which sexist, misogynist and nationalistic messages are often reproduced. They decided to form a non-hierarchical choir ruled by the principle of solidarity and equality through diversity, where music is not only the aesthetic form, but also a clear political engagement. Through their repertoire they empower women, strengthen solidarity and awareness, and call for a relaxed and non-heteronormative perception of oneself and others.
By 2016, Z’borke attended various festivals in Slovenia and abroad: International Feminist and Queer Festival Red Dawns (Ljubljana), Festival angažirane umetnosti (Izola, Ankaran), Rdeči revirji (Hrastnik), Festival Alternativer Chöre (Vienna) and Pisana Loka (Škofja Loka). With participation on benefit concerts, they supported anarchist social space A-Infoshop, gender-related website Spol.si and helped collect means for refugees on a concert hosted by Slovenian organization of women in music Glasne. Furthermore, they performed in LGBT-friendly Café Kolaž, in research center ZRC SAZU, cultural center KUD France Prešeren and in gay club Tiffany (AKC Metelkova mesto). Z’borke have also sung on streets and in public spaces, including two feminist rallies and a flash-mob in cultural centre Cankarjev dom (together with Female Choir Kombinat).
