BATESVILLE — My Brother’s Keeper was the big winner at “Batesville’s Got Talent” Feb. 24.

The band, composed of members Wyatt Murray, bass, 18, Brookville; Benjamin Luckhaupt, guitar, 21, and Joshua Luckhaupt, fiddle, 23, Bright; and Titus Luckhaupt, mandolin and lead vocals, 18, West Harrison, performed the original song “Oh, Laz-arus.”                           

The judges were very impressed. Eric Stauffer liked how they blended together, but suggested, “If you’re going to do harmony, be on a microphone.”

Jonathon Maple stressed, “You have awesome energy, and involving the audience was great.”

Regina Siefert noted, “You are the whole package.”

The quartet plans to use the $1,000 prize money to make a CD. Judge Jama Cleghorn announced, “When you make your CD, let everyone here know, especially me, because I will buy one.”

Second place and $500 went to Alexa Fangman, 18, Batesville. The Oldenburg Academy senior sang “Wishing You Were Somewhere Here” as she played the piano. Judge Doug Bessler told her she had “good voice control.”

Cleghorn “thought it was beautiful. It gave me chills.”

The young lady will put the money toward college, where she plans to study musical theater.

The third-place winner was Alaina McPherson, 17, Batesville, who played “Home” and “Danny Boy” on piano. Siefert commented, “I’m thinking talented or gifted, and I think you’re gifted. I could hear the emotion, and I thought it was fabulous.”

The BHS student will use the $250 prize money for college, where she will study music therapy. She said, “I like to play in front of people. It’s always fun for me.”

Other contestants included the Batesville Singers, who sang and danced to “You’re the One That I Want.” Siblings Alicia and Josh Gardner, Milan, performed “Lights.” Christopher Jarman, Aurora, an OA sophomore, played an arrangement he created called “The Evolution of Piano.”

Kayla Jones, 18, a BHS senior, showed off her dancing skills as she moved to the music of various artists. Sabrina Mayol, a BHS junior, sang and played the guitar to “The A Team.”

Samantha Voegele, 14, Noblesville, sang her rendition of “My Heart Will go On.” Noah Arnold, 12, Sunman, sang and played the ukelele and piano to “Viva la Vida.”

One of the most unique performances was by four BHS seniors (Andy Nolan, Joey Hutchison, Jack Gettelman and Ryan Fisher). The Fearsome Fourswim used comedy and acrobatics to show off their synchronized swimming skills. Cleghorn called it “complete entertainment.”

Bessler pointed out, “Great job on creativity.” Stauffer remarked, “Comedy is hard, and you guys make it a lot of fun.”

Proceeds from the event, which was sponsored by the Mayor’s Youth Council, will go toward landscaping and aesthetic improvements downtown.