When it comes to the performing arts - no matter pop or classical - the look is essential. Imagine if Vanessa Mae's debut album The Violin Player featured a cover image of the violinist in a suit instead of a sexy wet dress.
Would it have grabbed the attention of casual listeners and generated as much hype surrounding the 'classical crossover' genre?
Mae's success has spurred musicians with a classical background into doing crossover music that blends pop with traditional instruments.
Despite their difference in musical styles, they all have one thing in common: the glamour of a pop star. Young, fresh and good-looking, many of them are being marketed as 'teen sensations'. They appear on popular television shows and tour around the world to promote their albums.
They dress stylishly and are very conscious of their classy image - be it Croatian pianist Maksim Mrvica's handsomeness or the girl-next-door appeal of Hayley Westenra. There is a good reason behind the marketing savvy, as traditional classical music seems to be losing its appeal among young audiences. Classical crossover may be the key to the revival of classical music.
The formula seems to work. Students at St Paul's Co-educational (Macdonnell Road) Primary School looked amazed as they watched Duel - young violinist duo Craig Owen and Greg Scott (right) from Manchester - perform Pachelbel's Canon in a lively manner at their school.