SEIMA Project: Young Artists Build the Next Musical Legacy

“Music and the SEIMA Project Are Stepping Stones to the Future.”

(Southeast Indiana) - For more than two decades, the Southeastern Indiana Musicians Association has celebrated the people who shaped the region’s musical identity. Now, through the SEIMA Project, the non-profit organization is also investing in the young artists who are writing its next chapter.

The annual initiative gives musicians and singers, ages 14 to 19, financial support, performance opportunities and access to experienced mentors -practical resources that can turn talent and determination into lasting growth.

The Project is a natural extension of SEIMA’s original purpose. Founded in 2001 by Ken Jackson and eight other local musicians, the association created its Hall of Fame to recognize the musicians, educators, producers and supporters whose work contributed to the cultural history of Dearborn, Franklin, Ohio, Ripley and Switzerland counties.

Those honorees did more than perform. They taught, created opportunities and helped music become part of community life across Southeast Indiana.

In 2021, SEIMA placed new emphasis on another part of its mission: promoting music awareness, appreciation and education in the present, while continuing to document the area’s rich musical heritage.

Brian DeBruler says that SEIMA recognized the need to encourage young artists to share their talents and for SEIMA to provide a method to do so.

The SEIMA Project grew from that commitment. By supporting artists who are still learning and developing their craft, the organization links the accomplishments of Hall of Fame inductees with the promise of a new generation.

Kenzie Bentle, board member and key proponent of the Project, researched criteria used for college entrance exams to design the application requirements. Applicants complete an online form and submit a link to an audition video. After the videos are reviewed, finalists are invited to perform live and interview with the SEIMA Project Panel.

The process gives participants experience preparing an audition, presenting their work and speaking about their goals - skills that can matter in college programs, competitions and professional settings.

Recognition is only one part of the award. Randall Garrett and other board members remembered how often young musicians need help paying for lessons, transportation, instruments, and other essentials. That experience shaped their decision to include cash prizes.

In 2026, grand prize winners Lane Deaton and Alysun Simon each received $1,000 to pursue their musical goals, while finalists Savannah Dement, Aaron Lewis and Sydney Gilland each received $350. The assistance gives recipients flexibility to address the needs that can otherwise slow their progress.

Winners also earn the opportunity to perform at SEIMA’s annual Hall of Fame ceremony. Sharing a stage connected to the region’s musical history allows them to reach new listeners and see themselves as part of a continuing local tradition.

Mentorship adds another layer of support. Experienced musicians and industry professionals can offer guidance on performance, education and career decisions, as well as the changing realities of social media and other technologies now central to building an audience.

More than 100 entries have been submitted during the project’s first five years and over $17,000 awarded. The applicants have represented a wide range of styles and instruments, including country singers and guitarists, classical pianists, show tune vocalists, percussionists, an accordion player and even a bassoonist.

That variety reflects the breadth of music being made across the five counties and challenges SEIMA to draw on a diverse board and knowledgeable musical contacts when evaluating auditions.

The results extend well beyond the competition. Past winners have pursued symphony auditions, studied abroad, and used music to help pay tuition for medical studies.

Percussionist Peyton Vann of Switzerland County, now studying for an education degree at Northern Kentucky University, has given lessons in schools across all five Southeast Indiana counties. His example shows how support for one young artist can expand outward as knowledge, encouragement and opportunity for many others.

That ripple effect is central to the SEIMA Project. The young musicians are not simply preparing for future careers; they are already contributing to their communities through school ensembles, public performances, lessons and the connections music creates among neighbors.

In that sense, they are following the path of SEIMA Hall of Fame honorees, whose influence was measured not only by individual achievement but also by what they gave back.

The Hall of Fame preserves the stories of those who built Southeast Indiana’s musical heritage. The SEIMA Project ensures that heritage remains active, growing and open to new voices.

By combining financial help, performance experience and mentorship, SEIMA is recognizing the region’s past in the most practical way possible: supporting the artists who are creating its musical present and future.

The idea actually echoes a much older local tradition. Historical accounts from Dearborn County describe the St. Cecelia Musicale, organized in Lawrenceburg in 1896, and Aurora’s Orpheus Club, organized in 1904. Their mutual goal was "to advance and promote the culture of musical art and personal improvement, especially among younger residents.”

More than a century later, the SEIMA Project carries that community-minded spirit forward in a form designed for today’s young artists.

2026 Hall of Fame Ceremony - Saturday, November 7, 2026

Time: Doors open 6:00 PM; show starts 6:30 PM

Location: Gibson Theatre, 47006 Batesville, IN

Live performances by Brady Seals and the 2026 SEIMA Project Winners. Tickets — Southeastern Indiana Musicians Association Inc.