ABOUT TONDRAE
Tondrae is a native of Baton Rouge, Louisiana and has spent 20 years providing festival/music production, program administration, coordination, tour management, talent buying, and event services to a variety of clients in Poland, Ukraine, Germany, France, The Netherlands, Cuba, Austria, Budapest, Switzerland,Tunisia, Canada, the UK, Korea, Romania, Lithuania, Spain, Italy, Belgium, and many cities throughout the United States.
After graduating from the University of New Orleans with a degree in Film Production, Tondrae produced, directed and acted in several award winning short films. He also began pursuing creative opportunities in the areas of music, entertainment, culture and the arts. He began recording and performing in venues with his own band and with other bands as a vocalist and songwriter.
His love for music and interest in the production side of the industry led to his spending 15 years at the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival, the world’s largest outdoor event of its type, as Credentials Coordinator, Talent Payee, Artist Liaison and Backstage Manager. After relocating to New York City post Hurricane Katrina, Kemp was hired to work with Jazz at Lincoln Center as Co-Producer of the New Orleans Jazz Heritage Tour, underwritten by the U.S. State Department. The tour featured four bands from New Orleans performing to sold out audiences at dozens of international venues in 17 foreign countries.
Tondrae has provided services for The National Urban League, Columbia University, Quicksilver Pro Long Beach, JVC Jazz Festival, Newport Jazz Festival, Saratoga Jazz Festival, Big Country Music Festival, Source 360 Music Conference & Festival, The Big Apple to the Big Easy Fundraiser at Madison Square Garden, Essence Music Festival, Voodoo Music + Arts Experience, New Orleans’ International Night and many others - providing oversight for major projects and events, budgeting, office management, program development, tour management, logistics, marketing, concert and festival production, artists’ management and bookings.
In New York, Kemp produced and curated weekly and monthly concert series featuring up and coming underground talent as well as national and international recording artists at popular venues Fat Baby and Free Candy in the Lower East Side and Brooklyn respectively.
Kemp is a proponent of community engagement, cultural exchange, diversity and inclusion.