HIDIRELLEZ 2025

Turkish communities around the world celebrate the arrival of spring with Hıdırellez. Hıdırellez is the Turkish name for the spring festival, but the tradition exists under different names among various ethnic groups. Strong Hıdırellez traditions can be found among the Roma, in the Balkans, and in Central Asia. Many people in Ghent with a migration background also celebrate this festival.

Hüsnü Şenlendirici is one of the greatest clarinet masters of Turkey and Europe. Raised in a musical family, he blends traditional West-Turkish gypsy music with modern influences. He has collaborated with top artists like Sezen Aksu and Mercan Dede and founded the band Lacho Tayfa. His album In the Buzz-Bag with Brooklyn Funk Essentials earned him international recognition. As a co-founder of Taksim Trio and through collaborations with Dhafer Youssef, he continues to push musical boundaries. His virtuosic playing, resembling a human voice, and his innovative style make him one of the most influential clarinetists of his generation.