About THE LOUISVILLE LEOPARD PERCUSSIONISTS

The Louisville Leopard Percussionists began in 1993 as The Fabulous Leopard Percussionists after some small mallet instruments were found in a storage closet at a Louisville elementary school. In 2003, The Leopards launched as a non-profit, committed to providing the Leopard experience to children throughout the Louisville community.

Since the beginning, The Leopards have taught thousands of students and performed throughout the eastern United States. They have appeared in locations including Atlanta, Dayton, Chicago, Indianapolis, Tampa, Columbus, Orlando, and Cincinnati. They have opened for the Chick Corea Trio in New York City, and for My Morning Jacket in Louisville. They have played at the Duke Ellington Jazz Festival in Washington, DC, at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, a TEDx convention in Kansas City, at the Superdome in New Orleans, and at the Forecastle Festival in Louisville.

The Leopards have performed with some of the world’s greatest musicians including Ndugu Chancler, Louie Bellson, Joe Morello, Jerry Steinholtz, Ruben Alvarez, Dave Samuels, Emil Richards, Victor Mendoza, Zoro, and have performed for Coretta Scott King, Victor Wooten, Wynton Marsalis, The Jonathan Scales Fourchestra, Prince Charles & Camilla, and a host of other luminaries and professional musicians.

They have been featured in an HBO series, The Music in Me. The documentary, “The Leopards Take Manhattan: The Little Band That Roared” followed their journey to New York City to perform at the International Association for Jazz Education’s annual conference. They also appeared on A&E’s Ozzy & Jack’s World Detour, playing Crazy Train for Ozzy and his family.

What began 29 years ago with a classroom of just over 24 second and third graders, now comprises 8 ensembles ranging from 2nd-10th grade, and an annual summer camp that serves over 200 kids.

The Leopards are supported by LP, Vater, Evans, and Sabian.