LOUISVILLE, Ky. - 27 years ago, teacher Diane Downs found some instruments collecting dust and asked her second-graders if they wanted to make music. Today, she heads The Louisville Leopard Percussionists, a nonprofit band that has taught thousands of kids to play - reaching millions of viewers and some very famous fans.

“It’s bigger than I ever imagined,” Downs marveled, sitting in the Leopards’ donated and permanent home; an old church on 2ndStreet. This accidental classroom fun has transformed into a world-renowned nonprofit band. Downs created programs for kids in grades two-thru-nine and says she’s been on a rollercoaster; leaving JCPS, then getting a lot of new instruments, catching the attention of A-list musicians like Ozzy Osborne and Jimmy Page, starring in an HBO special, and racking up six million YouTube views to date.

With several age groups all requiring practice time, Downs says she’s at the building at least five days per week, with a sixth regularly devoted to concert performances. She’s enlisted the help of assistant directors, some who come early and stay late to give extra instruction.

“I just love all the teachers here because they’re super nice,” said Isla, 10. “You can be, like, really funny and weird, and you can express yourself here.”

One assistant director was so beloved, while we were there and as she entered the room on her final day before moving her career across the country, the kids interrupted rehearsal, screamed in joy, ran over and gave a group hug dozens of children deep. The connection between directors and their pupils was on full display.

“I want to do more for these kids,” Downs said. “I want them to feel like rock stars, just to be on top of the world and have that feeling; you work hard and take that into your life.”

The Leopards' “Big Gig,” is hosted each spring. 2020’s gig will be at the Brown Theater in downtown Louisville.