A few, like photogenic violinist Leila Josefowicz, refuse to use sexy marketing campaigns or crossover gimmicks to build their careers.

But others, like Lara St. John, have rocked the classical establishment. They include:

Bond - A British female string quartet, they typically strike leggy, supermodel poses in their publicity shots. (Their producer refused a nude photo on their debut album cover, but it now reportedly circulates on the Web.)

Eroica Trio - For a time, designer Carmen Marc Valvo was their official wardrobe designer and helped create the group's glam stage persona.

Nadja Salerno-Sonnenberg - A virtuoso violinist who is an individualist, both in her stage presence and her controversial performances.

Nigel Kennedy - One of the first "punk-rock" violinists to grace a classical album cover and a huge Jimi Hendrix fan, he's known as the "bad boy of classical music," although he regularly appears with the likes of the Berlin Philharmonic.

Vanessa-Mae - She sported a wet T-shirt on the cover of her 1995 debut album The Violin Album, which sold 3.5 million copies. She's been one of People magazine's "50 Most Beautiful People in the World" and was recently signed by Sony Classical.

Opera Babes - Classically trained singers Rebecca Knight and Karen England promote themselves like the Three Tenors.

Linda Brava - Her fame is more about her Playboy poses and a Baywatch appearance than her violin playing.

The Opera Band - A mixed quintet (male and female) who rely on pumped-up rhythms, crossover pop arrangements of opera tunes and a youth marketing campaign.

Janelle Gelfand