MOOSEHEART, IL - No one walked across a stage and received a diploma on Thursday, May 14, but in a very real sense, Mooseheart's band and chorus members moved through one of their annual rites of passage.

For the seniors, this year's annual Spring Concert, which took place at the House of God, formed their final chance to play or sing together with their group before an audience. And whether Kristin Shuman's chorus or Steve Schmidt's band, the consensus was that this matriculation moved the audience, just as will the May 23 high school graduation.

"They've had a year to fine tune," Mooseheart Executive Director Scott Hart said. "The Christmas Concert's always special. But this is really the time when the kids in our music program really shine, both vocally and instrumentally. They put on a great show."

Three seniors performed solos in the concert: Sarah Perry sang a solo in a piece for the chorus while clarinetist Parker Mitchell and flutist Ethan Grasty played instrumental solos.

"These are performers," Hart said. "This whole last week, they have wanted to practice every spare moment they can. The seniors have been doing recordings of their music. They really feel the pressure of their performances, which is good. It's a good teaching tool to feel butterflies, but then to say 'I'm going to go out and do my best.'"

As Hart said, the audience was always going to give warm applause following the performances. But he added that the band and chorus members wanted to feel as though they had earned that recognition.

"They want perfection and I know that's what they've been working for the whole year," Hart said. "They have put in a lot of hours. Mr. Schmidt's worked hard with them, finding every opportunity to practice and to teach them what they need to know. This is when they have to shine and it's exciting."

The end-of-year ceremonies and celebrations seem to take on a higher pace following the Spring Concert as well, Hart said.

"This is kind of the buildup to Commencement Week, the Pilgrim Conferral, the College of Regents ceremony - everything that's going to be happening," Hart said.