Keshawn Kemp, a student at Denison High School who has been legally blind since he was 2 months old, performs as a euphonium player in the school’s “Touch of Gold” marching band, KXII reported. Kemp recently marched in the district’s homecoming parade alongside junior Jackson Stone, who serves as his on-field guide to ensure he stays in step.
According to KXII, Kemp has retinoblastoma, a cancer of the eyes that caused tumors and detached retinas. He began playing drums at age five or six and transitioned to the euphonium in sixth grade, learning all music by ear. Band Director Melissa Lewis told the station that while Kemp is the first legally blind student to march with the century-old program, the band has known him since his days at B. McDaniel Intermediate School when he was first learning an instrument.
Kemp’s mother, Shlonda Ford, emphasized that the diagnosis has not slowed her son, noting that music remains central to his identity. Stone expressed admiration for Kemp’s resilience, stating that the student exemplifies the belief that individuals can achieve anything in life. The pair plans to continue marching together for the remainder of the season.
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