This is a good subject:

One thing that I like is this is a good idea: Advertise composers as
rebels.  Out of sheer ignorance, people describe certain pop-stars as
original, tonal engineers when in actuality it is something that was
done in the late romantic era.  I think if we introduce some really crazy
"true" rebels such as John Cage, Stravinsky, (there's also some American
composer I want to add in this list but can't think of the name) and
show how they pushed the limits of the very definition of music, they'd
get admired.

Also, one method I like to bring up is ease people into classical music.
Start with some immediate gratifying classics such as Liszt Rhapsody #2,
Beethoven Waldstein, and maybe some Chopin Preludes such as #4 is a good
way to start.  Gershwin is another option as well.  And then move into
some of other Liszt's and Beethoven's stuff, and other composers and
eventually work to some modern classical stuff.

Anthony Walter