Tony Bennett And Lady Gaga Surprise NYC Students

Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga made a surprise appearance to 700 NYC high school students at Frank Sinatra School of the Arts on the last day of school.

Frank Sinatra School of the Arts (FSSA) was founded by Tony Bennett in his hometown of Astoria, Queens and Bennett usually attends graduation but this year due to his tour schedule he is unable to join.

Instead, he decided to do something special for the last day of classes, so he asked his good friend Lady Gaga to join him for a master class in the school's Concert Hall.

Moderated by NBC's Lester Holt, Gaga and Bennett conversed on stage about a variety of subjects including jazz music, The Great American Songbook, creativity and also fielded questions from the students.

Then Tony Bennett performed the classic "The Very Thought of You" followed by Lady Gaga's wonderful version of

"Every Time We Say Goodbye." In a spontaneous and playful moment, the two began to serenade each other with the standard "I Can't Give You Anything But Love." Gaga then added in a cheek-to-cheek slow dance.

Several musicians have done master classes at FSSA including Billy Joel and Paul McCartney.

"When I first heard Gaga sing my reaction was that she is going to be bigger than Elvis.

She is so bright and intelligent and she has it. In jazz you either got it, the syncopation, the rhythm or you don't, and when I heard Gaga I said she's got it!"

Gaga talked about the wonderful experience she always has when she sings with Tony, saying, "When I am with Tony I feel like I am 15 years old at home listening to Ella and Coltrane records.

The way he sings is effortless and so prolific. It's so liberating to be able to sing jazz, especially at this point in my career!"

In response to Tony's comment "these songs are so timeless," Gaga joked: "Like a good black dress, they never go out of style."

The event ended with student choirs performing a rendition of Tony Bennett's "Smile" and Lady Gaga's "Applause.

Lady Gaga and Tony Bennett first met when the two performed at the Robin Hood Foundation benefit gala in 2011.

Lady Gaga joined Tony for a duet of "The Lady Is a Tramp" for Bennett's DUETS II album. Lady Gaga and Tony Bennett are currently collaborating on a jazz album planned for release later this year.

Frank Sinatra School of the Arts (FSSA) was founded by Tony Bennett, in association with the NYC Department of Education in 2001 as part of the singer's efforts to support arts education in public schools.

With his wife, Susan Benedetto, they founded Exploring the Arts, which currently supports a total of 17 public high schools in NYC and Los Angeles.

Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20140616/118730
SOURCE Interscope Records