“The Leopards are a success because of the hard work and discipline of the kids, the support from their parents and the incredible vision that Diane Downs has that all her kids in the ensemble have creativity and talent. Success in music, success in life - it's no coincidence.” -- Dave Samuels, Grammy Award winning percussionist

“Diane Downs is to percussion education as Suzuki is to violin pedagogy. Her work has the potential to usher in a positive revolution in how children learn, appreciate, perform, and create music. Diane’s work with the Leopards is more than an act of love, devotion, and passion — though it is all of these. It represents a reuniting of the ear with the heart, a reaffirmation of the genius within each child, a reconnection with Music’s essence. Every child she touches is transformed forever as a result of this utterly positive, challenging, but totally natural approach to music making. Diane’s work – emerging out of her own challenges as a ‘different’ learner — democratizes the experience of musical performance and makes it available to all. If Diane’s work can be codified and multiplied, it could help to bring about a new era wherein truly world-class music making becomes the experience of EVERY child. Thank you, Diane Downs.” -- Harry Pickens, Jazz Pianist/Educator/Speaker

"The Leopards are a group of musicians that learned to play music from within and then realized they were all playing music as a band of talented young people. Diane Downs's teaching method works and should be adapted by many." -- Ndugu Chancler, Studio percussion artist & educator

“It was a pleasure working with the Leopards, and I was amazed at how well those youngsters played. Their director does a marvelous job with those kids, and I was really impressed.” -- Joe Morello, legendary jazz drummer

"Diane Downs has one of the best organized and most unique programs in the world. Not only is the talent of these young musicians being developed, but also, you can't help but admire their level of discipline, respect, sense of pride, and focus in their performances. Diane is a jewel of an educator!" -- Victor Mendoza, Professor, Berklee College of Music, Yamaha and Vic Firth Performance Artist

“What the Leopards do best is remind us that music is all about fun and discovery. Somewhere along the way, so many of us veteran musicians lose these essentials and allow ourselves to become consumed and subsumed by the music business. Every year the personnel changes and the repertoire grows- only the joy, the spirit, and the Diane Downs zeal remain unchanged-, and this fabulous group of focused and purposeful children, The Leopards, continues to show us all that there is magic in children and joy in music.” -- Hal Miller, jazz historian

The "LOUISVILLE LEOPARDS" are a fantastic group of elementary and middle school musicians taught and inspired by the miracle work of DIANE DOWNS.  It is shocking to see these groovy kids playing difficult music composed by such legends as Duke Ellington, Miles Davis, Dizzy Gillespie and many other great composers......”  -- Brad Dutz, LA Studio Musician

"The Leopards, under the guidance and encouragement of Diane Downs, have shown that no child is too young to be able to benefit from playing a music instrument. As a result, the feeling of accomplishment they receive enriches their lives." -- Steve Nigohosian, Artist Relations Manager, Latin Percussion.

“Diane Downs and The Louisville Leopards are an ensemble that you truly have to see to believe. Their amazing talent and approach to music is unique, entertaining, educational and fascinating. Not only does this program provide an excellent educational opportunity for the students, they will educate the listener as well! You will not believe your eyes or your ears! Diane has ultimately taken the world of music education to not only a higher level, but she has done with based on a set of standards that have not existed until just recently.” -- Staci Stokes, Director of Education, Pro-Mark Corporation

"Although it may be easier to observe the fun and enjoyment of being a 'Leopard', the kids who play in the group actually learn some pretty serious, very important life-lessons while making music. In addition to a greater appreciation of the arts, increased discipline, self-confidence, team-work and creative thinking are just a few of the skills participants absorb. In fact, Diane and the Leopards were pioneering and popularizing the recreational and developmental benefits of music participation well before most of the music education community was even aware those terms existed." -- David Levine, President, Full Circle Management; President, Drums for North America; Co-Executive Director, Percussion Marketing Council

“Diane Downs and the Louisville Leopards have been the model for my group, We Got the Beat. Diane comes to my town every summer for a one-week camp and sets the tone for our rehearsals. I have tried to mold my teaching after her style and all my students are required to own all of the Leopard CD’s so they can learn the tunes the Leopard way. This way of teaching kids is like an immersion program into a foreign language.  The kids are thrown into a musical environment and given the tools they need to function at that time.  Then, we build on what they know until they are fluent, well-functioning musicians. Diane and the Leopards are quite an inspiration!” -- Brenda Myers, Director of We Got the Beat Youth Percussion Ensemble, Fresno, CA.

“I really can’t say enough about the Louisville Leopard Percussionists and their director, Diane Downs. I saw them about four years ago at a conference and never stopped hoping that we could one day start such a group in our school. I brought back a CD of the Leopards’ amazing performance and began playing it for anyone that would listen and anyone who could help us get started. Finally, in the summer of 2004, we were able to have Diane spend several days with about 20 of our elementary students. On the final day she was here, we performed a concert for our school board and parents and they could not believe what that group of elementary students was able to accomplish in just a few days. Diane’s leadership and the inspiration of the sounds of the Louisville Leopards have helped us to keep our percussion group going. The students are learning music theory and how to work together. They have more pride in themselves and their school and we are keeping them busy in those critical after school hours. I know we will be hearing about the Louisville Leopards all over the United States for years to come.” – Dianne Arnett, Morganfield Elementary School Family Resource Center Director