By Mark Ambrogi
Jack Shaffer has sung barbershop and Southern gospel music nearly his entire life.
Shaffer, a Carmel resident, is a member of the Circle City Sound, an all-male chorus.
The Circle City Sound will hold its annual Christmas show at 2 p.m. on Dec. 13 on Pike High School Performing Arts Center, 6701 Zionsville Rd. There also will be special guest barbershop quartets. The Reen Family Singers will be featured in the second half of the show.
“Remember the Osmond family, well they don’t hold a candle to this family,” Shaffer said. “They are all very talented. Mom (Sophie) plays the harp, dad (Steve) is a Ph.D in music. Six of the kids play classical piano. Several play violin and several guitar.”
Steve and his three oldest sons sing with the Circle City Sound, which started in Indianapolis in 1948.
Circle City Sound’s chorus earned the district chorus championship on Sept. 27 in Indianapolis and qualified for the international competition on July 3 in Pittsburgh. Circle City Sound finished seventh in the international competition in July in Toronto.
Shaffer said the members come from all over Knightstown, Rushville, Muncie, Anderson and Kokomo. Shaffer said many come from Carmel, Westfield and Noblesville. The age range of group members are from 12 to 80.
Shaffer, a tenor, has been a member for more than three years. Shaffer, 74, started in a barbershop quartet at Selma (Ind.) High School (later consolidated into Wapahini). Shaffer sang Southern Gospel music professionally for 20 years.
Tickets are $15 for general admission ($18 at the door), $20 for premier seating. Call 849-0324 for ticket orders. Doors open at 1:15 p.m.
