The York Revolution stadium is quiet, the groomed baseball field empty, and the parking lot mostly bare. But up in a room overlooking the ballpark, singing breaks the silence.

The atmosphere in the waiting room is tense, with children and adults sitting in chairs and lining the walls. Muted singing from the audition room and the occasional whisper are the only noises as the contestants fidget in anticipation for their turn to try out.

Auditions for the "Voice Quest" competition are taking place, and hopeful singers are waiting for their turn to perform in front of the panel of judges.

Sara Holden of Littlestown is one of many in the stadium. The 11-year-old decided to try out after winning third place in her sixth-grade talent

Kayla Geyer, 15, of Red Lion, plays the electric piano while performing the song At Last by Etta James at the Voice Quest auditions. (FLIPSIDE - BRETT BERWAGER)
show. Although she thinks she may want to be a famous singer some day, she is nervous for her audition.

"I don't like people that I don't know listening to me sing," Sara said.

Others aren't as anxious.

After performing at various coffee house gigs as well as the Strand-Capitol Performing Arts Center in York, Kayla Geyer, 15, of Red Lion takes away something valuable from each audition.

"It's a learning experience, to sum it up," Kayla said.

A singer as well as a musician, she played piano while she sang Etta James' "At Last" during her audition.

"I love music and this is my passion," Kayla said. "For a lot of people music is an emotional outlet. I think I can reach out to people with my music."

This is the first year the "Voice Quest" competition has taken place. The contest, hosted by the York YWCA and the York Revolution, required contestants to first submit YouTube videos of themselves singing. The live auditions are the second round of the process before finalists are chosen.

The singers are divided into two age groups: the school-age group - 18 and younger - and 19 and older as the adult group. The six finalists - two adults and four school-aged singers - will then sing at Revolution game halftimes, at dates yet to be determined, with the crowd able to vote via text message for their favorite singer.

Prizes for the champions and runners-up will include suite nights at the York Revolution, Revolution game tickets, and other prizes from Menchey Music. The panel of judges consists of Matt Vucic from Menchey Music, Ben Hodge from Ben Hodge Studios and the YWCA "Reach" program, and Jennifer Brillhart, chief development officer at the York YWCA.

After hearing everything from Taylor Swift to Bonnie Raitt, the panel was impressed by the talent they saw, and said making the decision of who will move on as finalists was difficult to make.

Hodge said that unlike other extra-curricular activities where everyone on the team receives a medal, in the performing arts world, unfortunately everyone cannot win.

"That's not the acting and music business," Hodge said. "I don't think it's ever easy."

However, all were excited by the opportunities the contest presented.

"We're showcasing York talent," Brillhart said. "We're hoping this will take off and we can do it again next year."