This isn't like the school concerts you remember.
The singer being honored at this concert in Glen Cove actually showed up.
"I was getting the kindergarten kids up onto the stage and a parent walked over and said, 'I just want you to know Billy Joel just walked into the auditorium,'" said Rosita Mallo, the concert director. "I said, 'I can't even handle this right now -- let's just get the kids on the stage.'"
Joel dropped by Deasy Elementary School's spring concert, which was a tribute to his music, in Glen Cove on Long Island.
"As soon as he came in I wanted to make sure he had a good spot," said Nomi Rosen, the school's principal. "I asked him if he wanted to sit in the front where he would not be bombarded and he said, 'no, I'll sit back here, I don't want the kids to be nervous.'"
The students had practiced music legend Billy Joel's tunes for months.
"So this person said I know his neighbor I know his friend people started to try to get in touch with him but we didn't hear anything so we didn't expect him," said Rosen.
The concert wasn't actually held at the elementary school, but Joel showed up there first, asking where the concert was. The secretary directed him to the middle school down the road.
High school students in a district television production program recorded the concert as an assignment - one that turned out to be rather exciting.
"To have him be there, it was shocking it really was," said Alyssa Schipilliti, a senior
"it was just like, Billy Joel is here, let's just keep it cool and try to get him," said Kahlil Gamor, a senior.
"I was like, I don't even know what he looks like, at first," said Geena Quijano, a senior.
Joel rode his motorcycle to the event, stayed for about an hour -- more than half of the concert -- then signed some autographs.
"They did good, considering the fact he was tucked in the shadow and he was [in the] dark and there were people in their way. They moved the camera and they made sure they got the shot," said Chris Barry, the television production teacher.
