Thirteen-year-old Destyni Fuller sings “Letters From War” during her audition for Bay Area Teen Idol. World Photo by Alex Powers

COOS BAY — Auditions this month produced one of the larger crops of Bay Area Teen Idol contestants the competition has seen recently. Beginning July 10, 18 local teenagers will be singing at summer festivals, fairs and weekly events at the Egyptian Theatre, until one of them is crowned the winner Sept. 20.

Among them are five returning contestants from last year, including runner-up Alyssa Birrer, 15, of North Bend, who has been a consistent favorite of judges and audiences since she first entered two years ago. Other returning contestants are Star Moralez, Caitlin Mansfield, Mercedese Mannon and Krista Kilmer.

The contestants were chosen by a revolving panel of audition judges, different from the regular contest judges who will decide the eventual winner.

At auditions May 13 at the Newmark Center in Coos Bay, six teens tried out, all of them making the lineup.

The only boy in the contest, Cody Glenn, 13, of Coos Bay, was the second to go before that night’s judges: Marty Crouse, Vanessa Liberman and Brenda Siller. After briefly answering a few questions, it was time to sing, but there was a problem: Cody didn’t realize he would singing without music, and he decided he needed to refresh his memory of how the song started.

Next up was Destyni Fuller, 13, of Bandon. Though it’s the first year she’s eligible for the competition, she’s already a stage veteran of several New Artists Productions shows in Bandon. While the other contestants came in alone, Destyni brought her whole family in with her for her interview. Asked if she’s in choir, Destyni explained that her school, Umpqua Valley Christian Academy, doesn’t have a choir. But her theatrical background was evident as she sang “Letters From War,” a contemporary Christian song by Mark Schultz, making abundant gestures.

Though the song ran several minutes long, there was no danger of anyone asking her to stop. The judges gave nothing away while the auditions were in progress, but it was clear the only question was how deep in the competition she would go.

“I love you ability to use your hands and look at us,” Crouse told Destyni afterward.

Stephanie Kilmer, the contest coordinator, said she was excited about the talent displayed at the auditions.

The contest promotes alcohol- tobacco- and drug-free activities for youth and is sponsored by Bay Area Together for Youth, the Coos County Commission on Children and Families, the Oregon Department of Human Services, and KMHS and KDOCK radio stations.