Biography
Serkan Hakki is a clarinetist, composer, arranger, producer, and educator, born and raised in Aleppo, Syria, who has drawn on a musical journey spanning Syria, Turkey, the United States, and Spain. In Aleppo, he was one of the few clarinetists playing the "G Albert clarinet system," an instrument uncommon in Arabic music, and his ability to blend the clarinet's distinctive timbre with traditional Turkish and Arabic music quickly earned him recognition — learning much of his craft through late-night radio sessions tuned into Turkish stations, absorbing the sounds that would come to define his style.
He is credited as the first to introduce the clarinet into Arabic music in a systematic way, following extensive research, and developed his own curriculum, "Clarinet in Arabic Music." Beyond performing, he has become a respected figure in the Turkish music industry as a music director and arranger, working with some of the Middle East's most prominent singers and musicians on projects blending traditional sounds with contemporary production. In 2021, he launched the "In The Studio Project," an innovative platform bringing independent musicians together globally, letting audiences experience live performances through headphones for an immersive, interactive listening experience.
In 2024, he completed a Master of Music in Contemporary Performance at Berklee Valencia, where exposure to jazz, flamenco, and Mediterranean sounds helped refine his artistic identity rather than replace it. He has since been granted a prestigious 10-year artist residency by the UAE's Ministry of Culture in recognition of his contributions to regional music, and his work has been featured in international media including The Guardian and the BBC, with over 60 million views on social media and 200 million streams across digital platforms.
