Melissa Manchester, the Grammy-winning singer who has her name etched into a sign on the Bronx Walk of Fame, walked into a rehearsal hall at Lehman College last Thursday morning, the day before she was to perform at the Grand Central Terminal Centennial Celebration at the iconic Manhattan train station.

The northwest Bronx native — she grew up on 196th Street and Jerome Avenue — was there to meet and practice with her latest collaborators, the Celia Cruz Bronx High School of Music Show Choir, which is continuing to build on its reputation as one of the best high school singing groups in all of New York City.

Before they began rehearsing, Manchester went up to every member of the choir, shook their hand and introduced herself.

Lisa Gwasda, the choir’s director and a big fan of Manchester’s, was in awe. But not just because she was in the presence of greatness.

“She was so humble,” Gwasda said afterward.

Just a few days earlier, following a little homework assignment from Gwasda, many of the young singers discovered Manchester for the first time and found they would soon be sharing the stage with a living legend.

Maybelline Roman, 16, is a Celia Cruz sophomore who lives about 20 blocks south of where Manchester grew up on Jerome Avenue. Once she found out more about Manchester, the aspiring professional singer, said she “got really excited” about the prospect of singing with her.

“Singing with Melissa is really exciting,” she added. “Lots of good nerves.”

John Moro, a resource room teacher at Celia Cruz, took advantage of a break in his schedule to check out rehearsal.

“It’s a fabulous, incredible group of young people who have a passion for music and entertainment,” Moro said about the students. He added, “And for them to meet Melissa Manchester, a living legend, it’s a great opportunity.”

After the rehearsal, Manchester gave the kids a treat, singing her biggest hit, “Don’t Cry Out Loud.” When she finished, her future collaborators burst into cheers and applause.

Manchester, who lives in Los Angeles, called the opportunity to work with young people in the Bronx “fantastic,” saying, as a graduate of Performing Arts High School in Manhattan, she loved seeing a specialized, music-based school in her home borough.

Gwasda took a back seat during rehearsal as Manchester ran the show. But before taking control, the ever humble Manchester asked if it was okay if she warmed up the students.

Gwasda said, “I’m sorry, you have Grammy awards, you can do whatever you want.”