Therapists
Kim Embler, MT-BC
Music Therapist
Founder and Owner
Program Coordinator
Kim Embler, MT-BC has over 30 years of experience as a board certified Music Therapist. She received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Music Therapy from Charleston Southern University and has since worked in the Charleston area.
Kim has vast experience with a wide variety of clientele, including autism, Down Syndrome, intellectual disabilities, speech/language/hearing impairments and disabilities, visual impairments, physical disabilities and rehab, ADD/ADHD, psychiatric disorders, substance abuse, older adults, dementia, dual diagnosis, children/adolescent residential treatment, and early intervention.
Kim founded Palmetto Music Therapy Services over 25 years ago and has immensely enjoyed the opportunities she's had to serve the Charleston area providing individual and group music therapy services.
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Kim is so grateful for the clients and families she has worked with throughout her career and feels especially blessed to be able to connect with her clients through music to aid them in their life's journey and encourage their success.
She is committed to the agency providing exemplary Music Therapy services to the greater Charleston community.
Wimberly Giardina, MT-BC
Music Therapist
Internship Supervisor
Wimberly Giardina, MT-BC received her degree in Music Therapy and Vocal Performance at the University of Alabama in 2007. She completed her internship at Hand in Hand Early Learning program with the United Cerebral Palsy foundation in Birmingham, AL. After her internship, she began working with Palmetto Music Therapy Services and worked with Kim Embler until 2011 until she was relocated out of town due to her husband’s football career. During her years with Palmetto Music Therapy Services she serviced a variety of individuals and groups in schools, homes, and geriatric facilities.
Wimberly has worked with a variety of diagnoses including Autism Spectrum Disorder, Down Syndrome, Williams Syndrome, ADD, ODD, dementia, Cerebral Palsy, and hospice care. Recently, she has moved back to the Charleston area and is looking forward to being back with the Palmetto Music Therapy team. Wimberly now brings with her the experience of owning her own private Music Therapy practice in Southwest Georgia and is excited to bring further experience to her clients here in the Lowcountry with Palmetto Music Therapy. When she is not working with clients she is cheering on the Charleston Southern Buccaneers where her husband coaches football. Wimberly, her husband Gabe, and their three boys reside in the Hanahan area.
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Riley Pace, MT-BC
Music Therapist
Administrative Assistant
Internship Coordinator and Supervisor
Riley Pace, MT-BC earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Music Therapy from the State University of New York at Fredonia. Riley completed her internship at Trident Medical Center and Palmetto Music Therapy Services in November 2017. She has worked with Palmetto Music Therapy Services ever since, working with the full life span in many settings, including schools, individual’s homes, nursing homes, and life skills programs.
Riley has a wide variety of experience with diagnoses including Autism Spectrum Disorder, Down Syndrome, intellectual disability, developmental delay, ADD, ODD, dementia, NICU patients, and hospice care. While working as a Music Therapist, Riley also became Kindermusik certified to assist her skills in working with children ages 0-7 years old. She is an instructor and Administrative Assistant with Kindermusik of Charleston as of 2017. Additionally, she teaches private piano students and sings professionally, performing at various venues in the Charleston area.
She brings her love of music, commitment to the community, and a desire to enhance the lives of her students and clients to Palmetto Music Therapy Services with great joy and enthusiasm!
Rachel Hudlow, MT-BC
Music Therapist
Social Media Coordinator
Rachel Hudlow, MT-BC earned her Bachelor of Music Therapy degree at Georgia College & State University in Milledgeville, GA. Rachel completed her internship at Palmetto Music Therapy Services in July 2025, and she soon after began working with Palmetto!
Throughout her internship and in continuing with Palmetto Music Therapy Services, Rachel has gained experience working in a number of settings including memory care and long-term care facilities, special education classes, early intervention programs, adult day care facilities, and home-based services. Rachel has worked with a variety of diagnoses including Autism Spectrum Disorder, Down Syndrome, intellectual and developmental disabilities, Alzheimer’s and dementia.
Rachel knows that music has shaped who she is as a person as well as a profession and she is so grateful to use music as a tool to support and connect with others! Rachel is so excited to begin this new chapter and her music therapy career with Palmetto Music Therapy Services, and cannot wait for all the music and memories to come!
Laura Barnhorst
Music Therapy Intern
Fall 2024 - Spring 2025
Meet our new intern, Laura Barnhorst! Laura is originally from Sunman, Indiana and has a dense background with percussion and group leading. She began playing music in middle school, and participated in the marching arts through high school. Throughout college, Laura was an ensemble director for a non profit percussion organization where she led an ensemble of second and third graders.
Laura has a relative with a disability, and growing up she was exposed to the field of music therapy through that connection. In 2020, she moved to Louisville, Kentucky where she began her journey in obtaining a Bachelors of Music in Music Therapy from the University of Louisville. While in college, Laura participated in numerous semesters of concert band and symphonic band. She also attended two conferences, with the SER-AMTA, where she had a more in depth experience with expanding her knowledge in music therapy while representing her university.
Laura is eager to expand her knowledge in the world of music therapy, and is grateful to be having this experience with the Palmetto crew!