. >> reporter: in another surprise they got to meet harry connick jr. who ask derrick to help him perform a number. derrick didn't know the words but he knew it was his big moment. >> reporter: were you nervous? >> no. >> you weren't? >> no. >> reporter: the students were invited to watch connick rehearse, they didn't know the would get a chance to see any of the obamas. >> it was fun, exciting. and it was an experience for me. >> reporter: and it was a new experience for martin ford who taught music at the school for 17 years. >> i've been in washington all my life. that was my first time inside the white house. it was very special to me. >> reporter: the visit to the white house as a lesson to the students. >> it makes it tangible for them knowing president obama and his wife came from humble beginnings, they can be whatever they want to be in life. >> news 4. northeast. >> the minor elementary school glee club is becoming rather well known. they have sung for the nfl and secretary of state hillary clinton and many other agencies in the washington are

groban, the black eyed peas, pink, snoop dogg, jennifer hudson, usher, jeff bridges, jamie foxx, harry connickted. quincy, how did you put this all together? >> he says to me every day, quincy, if you want to make god laugh, tell him your plans and you just have to let go. aim carefully, the diversity of whatever, you know and aim carefully and let go. i would say a sign that says leave some space for god to walk through a room and it will really happen. >> divine guidance this trip, larry. i tell you what was happen the most was to see the enthusiasm on so many of the people's faces there, because they, of course, 25 years ago they weren't old enough, some weren't even here to be around to be in this. the enthusiasm of having the next generation of wanting with to be part of this was just mind blowing. >> larry: lionel, none of the people in this one were in the last one, right? >> exactly right. we wanted to pass the baton to the next generation and empower them to give them an opportunity to understand their social awareness and to give them a chance to be a part of history. i mean this is