wiEmily Groff Heilborn is a music educator, songwriter, and worship leader who has spent more than a decade helping communities find connection and meaning through music. Her work blends artistry with education, creating spaces where people of all ages can engage with Jewish life in a joyful, musical way. 

At Temple Israel in Memphis, Emily serves as the Director of Music Education and Family Worship. There, she launched Temple Israel Music Programming and Outreach (TIMPO), a wide-reaching initiative that includes private lessons, group classes, youth and adult ensembles, and community-wide events. She also designed a songleading pipeline for students in kindergarten through high school, building leadership skills and nurturing a love for Jewish music in the next generation. One of her favorite projects has been TIMPO Fest, which has grown into one of Temple Israel’s largest annual gatherings, bringing hundreds of people together in celebration. 

In addition to her educational work, Emily is an accomplished songwriter and performer. Her debut EP, Breathe (2022), showcases her original Jewish music, and several of her songs have been published in the Ruach series by Transcontinental Music. She has composed for URJ camps, served as an artist-in-residence, and shared her music at synagogues, conferences, and youth gatherings across the country. 

Emily studied music education at Vanderbilt University, earning Bachelor and Master degrees from the Blair School of Music and Peabody College respectively. With training that combines performance and pedagogy, she brings creativity, accessibility, experience, and intention to every setting—whether leading Shabbat services, teaching music, or mentoring teens as they step into leadership roles. 

Originally from Miami Beach, Florida, Emily will soon be moving to  Washington D.C with her husband, Nick, and their two corgis, Artoo and Captain Jack Sparrow, to start work at Temple Sinai of DC as their Music and Ritual Specialist.