Celebrated Greek clarinetist Petroloukas Halkias, a towering figure in traditional music from the Epirus region and a key ambassador of its sound both in Greece and abroad, has died at the age of 90.
Born into a family of musicians in Delvinaki, northwestern Greece, Halkias took up the clarinet at the age of 11, despite initial objections from his father, Periklis, a respected musician in his own right. Periklis, too, had once faced resistance from his own family over concerns that playing the wind instrument might affect his health.
The two eventually performed together in Athens, where Periklis had settled in the 1930s, appearing at many of the capital’s leading venues before the Second World War. He would later return regularly to Epirus during the summer months, performing at traditional festivals, weddings, and other community events.
In 1960, Petroloukas Halkias emigrated to the US, where he was later joined by his father. Over nearly two decades abroad, he played a vital role in preserving and promoting the musical traditions of Epirus.
Returning to Greece in 1979, Petroloukas Halkias made Athens his permanent base and continued to record, perform, and collaborate with artists across genres. He released eight solo albums and contributed to numerous projects alongside some of Greece’s most prominent musicians.
Culture Minister Lina Mendoni paid tribute to Halkias, stating: “His loss is not merely the loss of a great musician, but of a faithful guardian of our musical heritage and cultural identity. He leaves behind an irreplaceable void in traditional music and in the heart of Epirus.”
