The Callen Clarke Group

For the Callen Clarke Group, music is all about bringing people together. Their performances build connections across cultures, in the local community, and most of all in their own family.

The Edmond-based band includes Callen and his three daughters, ages 15 through 24. Specializing in Arabic music, they’ve been playing at venues around OKC for more than a decade.

A Family Talent

It all started when Callen fell in love with the oud, a Mediterranean stringed instrument. Callen is a classically trained musician and composer who has premiered many symphonic works, but Arabic music is closest to his heart.

His wife Becky is also a musician, and all the Clarke girls inherited their parents’ talent. The oldest, Faith, was still in grade school when she played her first gig. Callen was in another Arabic band, and he asked her to fill in for an absent member. That performance led to many more. Then Hope, who is two years younger, decided she wanted in, too.

Fifteen-year-old Lizzy stepped into the group more recently. Their youngest sister, nine-year-old Grace, practices with them sometimes but hasn’t decided whether to join. Becky used to play with the group too, but then she decided she could better support them as an enthusiastic fan.

The Clarkes all play multiple instruments, both within and outside of the band. Callen concentrates on the oud but also plays lute. Faith specializes in violin and has a string performance degree from UCO. Hope, a flutist and percussionist, directs the youth worship band at her church. Lizzy plays percussion in the band, and she will play flute in the Santa Fe marching band this fall.

Their own heritage isn’t Middle Eastern, but there’s a deep mutual respect between the group and the communities whose music they play. “We receive nothing but kindness, generosity, and esteem,” says Callen. “I think the feeling is that non-Middle Eastern people playing this music demonstrates its universal appeal.”

Celebrating a New Album

The Callen Clarke Group just released their first album, Into the East. They began the project in 2020 after Covid-19 shut down their gigs. “We thought it would be over and done that summer!” says Lizzy. But as they grew musically, the album kept changing too. “We wanted it to represent us at our best,” says Callen.

The recording process was tedious. “We’re all perfectionists,” says Hope. “That is the enemy of recording or producing any kind of creative work.” But they persisted until they had a finished product that made them proud.

Into the East features original songs in several Middle Eastern traditions. Callen is also a novelist, and the album includes a suite that ties in with his historical trilogy, Tres. Into the East is available as a digital download from Amazon.

Callen has written two concerti that the group wants to record next. “We would really like to partner with a solid pro chamber orchestra,” says Callen. They also hope to premiere the concerti with an orchestra.

Building Connections

Each member loves being in the band for different reasons. Lizzy enjoys meeting so many people and musicians, and Hope appreciates the family time. Faith is grateful that the group helped her achieve a high degree of professionalism at a young age. All of them agree it gives them a special closeness as a family.

All the Clarkes are grateful for the bonds their music has forged, with each other and with the community. “When you have the crowd engaged, no matter who they are, and you’ve made them happy, that’s the best part,” says Lizzy.

To learn more, visit the Callen Clarke Trio on Facebook.