Singer-songwriter and artist-educator Rory Michelle Sullivan creates joyful and moving songs and gatherings that inspire self-actualization, healing, and growth.

She is an influential and sought-after leader in Jewish music and education nation-wide for her ability to create communal experiences that spark powerful connection.

With her infectious enthusiasm, purposeful program design, and inspired facilitation; from tiny babies to elders and from lively camp and synagogue programs to intimate healing services, Rory Michelle has touched thousands of individuals with her vivacious energy, enchanting voice, and vibrant spirit.

Want Rory Michelle to facilitate a powerful experience for your community? 
​
Reach out below. 
“Working with Rory Michelle is a dream. She is engaging and energetic, and her ‘ruach’ is contagious. As a supervisor, I could not ask for someone more dependable, reliable, and independent than Rory Michelle. Even when things don’t go according to plan (with transitions, rooms, setups, you name it!) she is flexible and optimistic. When Rory Michelle is in front of a group, she is dynamic and responds well to the specific group that is in front of her. She differentiates well for all learners and ages, and works well with all teachers and staff.”

- Merissa Hochberg, Director of the Lese Center for Living Judaism, Central Synagogue, New York, NY

"Rory Michelle Sullivan is a phenomenal musician, educator, and song leader! Her energy and enthusiasm are infectious. She had people of all ages up on their feet, singing, clapping, and jumping. She is equally comfortable with adults and children of all ages, and she has a lovely way of connecting with and including everyone.
​
At our Sukkot celebration, she led a program for adults that was deeply personal and meaningful. I wasn’t sure all of the participants would be comfortable, but she had everyone sharing in meaningful ways. There was laughter and a few tears. What a beautiful way to start a new year."
- Rabbi Hannah Orden, Congregation Beth Hatikvah (Summit, NJ)

"Honestly, Rory, your presence was one of the great blessings of the weekend. You are truly a force of Nature, in the most positive way. Thanks so much for coming all the way out to the +MW wilderness and sharing your heartfelt gifts, and inspiration!"
-  Elliot Weis, Limmud Chicago + MW participant

​"You REALLY were tremendous!" - Ira Sperling, Congregation B'nai Israel - NJ Congregant

PROGRAM OFFERINGS

Artist in Residence Weekends

Are you are looking to bring music, creativity, and spirituality to your community?  Talk to Rory Michelle about an Artist Residency Weekend or series of weekends. We'll work together to facilitate gatherings of joyous and moving music, exciting artistic collaboration, singing together, connection, and inspiration.

​Customize the Artist Residency Weekend to your community’s needs and schedule. Weekends are based around Friday night and Saturday morning Shabbat services and include two additional programs on Saturday and/or Sunday. Choose from program menu (download pdf below for more detail) including: Shabbat afternoon lunch & learn with text-study & song session; Havdalah plus community song session; "be a part of the art" session workshopping Rory Michelle's musical, RISING IN LOVE, or a new Jewish text-based song; and whatever else we can dream up together.
air_weekend_program_offerings_-_rory_michelle_sullivan.pdf
File Size: 57 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

Bring RISING IN LOVE the Musical to You

Would your community enjoy a presentation and discussion on a new musical? Or even better - being a part of its development?

Rory Michelle's catchy, singable musical, RISING IN LOVE, is the modern-day coming of age story in which interracial Jewish couple Rosie and Scott must overcome their deepest fears to make modern love work - and discover what it takes to rise in love.

Presentation options include a table or staged reading of the work-in-progress and a feedback session. They can also be paired with workshops facilitated by Rory Michelle (with an option to partner with phenomenal Jewish educator Erica Riddick of Jews of Color Sanctuary). 

Teen Musical Prayer & Song Composition Workshops

Bring in an awesome Post-B'nai Mitzvah or Hebrew High Program that teens will love!
Students collaboratively choose and study a Jewish text then compose a song, musical prayer, or set a liturgical piece to music based on the text, then share their composition at a service or event or through a music video.
FROM STUDENTS:
​I don’t think I thanked you enough for the truly amazing songwriting elective that you put together this time around. I’m extremely grateful that I got to spend my last year of religious school doing something that means so much to me and hopefully my future (making music) and learning more about Judaism than I ever knew before.
 - Lea R., 10th grader at Tiferet Bet Israel, Blue Bell, PA
FROM EDUCATORS:
It has been a distinct honor working with you. Your creativity brings out the best in my high school students. It was clear to me, by their enthusiastic participation, they got a great deal from this project. I intend to do this again next year. Meanwhile, !בהצלחה [Good luck!]
- Buzz Bray, Kesher Academy Teacher, Tiferet Bet Israel, Blue Bell, PA

Jewish Education & Music Curricula & Consulting

Want to create a safe space for your students where they feel valued, empowered, and respected? Curious how to engage students of all ages in sophisticated yet fun ways with Jewish wisdom and teachings? Looking to facilitate deep learner engagement? Or for help infusing music into your Jewish education curriculum?

​Rory Michelle has created informal Jewish education curricula for day camps, innovative Jewish communities like Lab/Shul, and religious schools of all shapes and sizes. Her work focuses on Jewish literacy as well as personal and spiritual development, including a current fascination with Shmirat Halashon, or "Guarding our Speech" - how we use our words to create healing and preserve dignity. Rory Michelle's approach is informed by her graduate degree work at Harvard Graduate School of Education with Eleanor Duckworth and Duckworth's Critical Exploration, a listening-focused practice that centers student thinking. Reach out today for a consultation on how to energize and deepen learning in your community or school.

Songleading & Community Events

In need of a Jewish musician or songleader for your religious school, camp, day school, group retreat, family program, Shabbat, holiday, or High Holiday service, B'nai Mitzvah service, creative ceremony, or other event? Rory Michelle will have everyone singing joyously along together. Looking for a songleader training or a consultation on music or curriculum? Reach out to Rory Michelle for that as well.

Arts-based Torah Study

Is learning a big focus of your community? We’ll explore Jewish text through one of Rory Michelle’s songs, or we’ll dig into one of the Girls in Trouble Curriculum units, for which Rory Michelle served as curriculum collaborator. This arts-based curriculum about women in Torah is accessible to all genders and explores the hidden intersections of Biblical character’s lives and our own, based on the indie-folk/art-pop song cycle by musician, poet, and Torah teacher Alicia Jo Rabins.

Sing-Along Concerts

A concert with Rory Michelle is never only a concert - it is a participatory event! Featuring Rory Michelle's Jewish text inspired album and plenty of singing along, concerts with Rory Michelle are a great way to bring the entire community together.
 COMMUNITIES RORY MICHELLE HAS BEEN BLESSED TO WORK WITH:
Congregation Beth El - NJ - South Orange, NJ
Jewish Federation of Greater MetroWest NJ
Temple Beth Sholom - Cherry Hill, NJ
Congregation Beth Hatikvah - Summit, NJ
JCC Camps at Medford - NJ
Adath Israel Congregation - Lawrenceville, NJ
Central Synagogue - NYC
Congregation Rodef Shalom - NYC
The 14th St Y/ New Country Day Camp - NYC
Lab/Shul - NYC
Park Avenue Synagogue - NYC
PJ Library NYC/Long Island/NJ
Limmud NY
Merrick Jewish Center - Merrick, NY
Merrick Hebrew High - Merrick, NY
Makom NY - Bethpage, NY
Temple Shalom - Plainview, NY
Temple Beth Chai - Hauppauge, NY
Congregation Tifereth Israel - Glen Cove, NY
jkidphilly
Tiferet Bet Israel - Blue Bell, PA
Beth Zion Beth Israel (BZBI) - Philadelphia, PA
Hebrew Helpers - Philadelphia, PA
Tackling Torah - Philadelphia, PA
Congregation Rodef Shalom - Philadelphia, PA
Temple Beth Hillel-Beth El - Wynnewood, PA
Theatre Ariel - Philadelphia, PA
​Beth El Temple Center - Belmont, MA
Harvard Hillel Worship & Study Minyan - Cambridge, MA
​Temple Israel - Westport, CT
ish, Cincinnati's Jewish and Israel Arts and Cultural Festival, OH
​Limmud Chicago + MW
​URJ Biennial
​Mitsui Collective
and more
I'm excited to meet you!

Write me below and let's actualize your vision.
© 2025 Live It Studios Co.