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Pop diva Cher is not usually associated with classical music, but the superstar recently welcomed a group of young Arab classical musicians into her California home.

"When I listen to these young people, I know that they’re standing and a spirit is coming through them," says Cher. "It’s pureness."

They are led by violin virtuoso Nabeel Abboud-Ashkar.

"She loved hearing the kids, she thought this is a wonderful thing and she appreciated the talent and the commitment the kids have to playing music," says Abboud-Ashkar.

Nabeel Abboud-Ashkar is the executive director of Polyphony, a new organization co-founded by Cher to teach classical music to young Arab-Israelis, ranging in age from 10 to 16.

Abboud-Ashkar is one of the world’s most prominent Palestinian classical musicians. He grew up in Nazareth and, borrowing a phrase from Cher, wishes he could "turn back time" because he says there was nothing like this when he was young.

"There were no schools, no system there to either support my talent or to guide me in the right way to develop either my career or my professional skills," says Abboud-Ashkar. "So the answer is yes, it was not very easy for me or any other individual Arab young musician who wanted to have a career in music."

Today, Polyphony is teaching these kids music and more. Arab and Israeli teachers work with the students to help produce classical music concerts for nearby Arab and Jewish communities.

Now they have international experience as well, as the musicians are currently here in the U.S. on a fundraising tour.

Another way that Polyphony is breaking barriers is by encouraging female musicians to join in as well.

So despite cultural and religious differences, Abboud-Ashkar says a love of music is something we can all "share."

For more information, visit www.waterfire.org/polyphony-foundation.