Theodor Hemberger (who often used the name Theodore or Theo throughout his life in the United States) was born in Bruchsal, Germany, on April 9, 1871, the son of the founder and director of a music school and singing society in Bruchsal. He wrote his first composition, a duet for violins, at age 10, and received his first musical instruction from his father. Two years later, he went to nearby Karlsruhe Court Orchestra as second concertmaster. At 18, he was sent to Heidelberg by his parents to study law. While there, Joseph Joachim heard his playing and invited Hemberger to study with him at the Hochschule für Musik in Berlin. While in Berlin, Hemberger studied music history with Philipp Spitta, composition with Woldemar Bargiel (Clara Schumann's half-brother), and piano with Hirschberg, and also attended a philosophy seminar at the University of Berlin. He directed several singing societies: the Akademischer Gesang-Vereins and the Komponisten-Vereins.

While on tour in 1893, Hemberger met singer Emma Conrad. He followed her back to her hometown of Scranton, Pennsylvania, and they were married the following year. Theodor and Emma had two sons: Armin, a medical illustrator at Yale, and Siegfried, a professional cellist.

While in Scranton, Theodor founded the Scranton Symphony Orchestra (1894), played in a professional string quartet, and directed several singing societies. In 1903, Theodor Hemberger came to Baltimore to become director of the Germania Männerchor, one of the oldest German singing societies in the country (founded 1856), which he directed for many years. He also wrote a number of pieces for the Männerchor and its Damenchor, made up of the members of the organization's "Ladies' Auxiliary."

In Baltimore, Theodor Hemberger was active as a musical performer, composer, arranger, and educator. From 1910 to 1915 he taught violin at the Peabody Conservatory of Music. After the demise of the Germania Männerchor (whose name was changed to the Metropolitan Club during World War I) around 1929, he continued to conduct choral groups for many years, among them the United Singers of Baltimore, the Harmonie Gesangverein, the Frohsinn, and the choir of the Zion Lutheran Church, one of the oldest and most famous German choirs in the United States. From about 1904 to the club's disbanding in 1950, he was active as a composer and performer in H. L. Mencken's Saturday Night Club. After leaving Peabody, he continued to teach privately. His Symphony in E-flat was performed by the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra in 1925. He died in Baltimore at the age of 85 on February 15, 1956.

Emma Hemberger was born Emma Conrad in Pottsville, Pennsylvania, in 1867, the daughter of a wealthy businessman. At the age of 14 she went to Germany to study piano at the Royal Conservatory at Stuttgart. While there, she also studied vocal performance, and in 1890 she signed a contract with the Strasburg Municipal Theatre and became its leading soprano. In 1893 she met Theodor Hemberger. Emma's father ordered her home to Scranton, where her family had moved. Theodor Hemberger followed her there and in 1894 they were married. Emma gave up her solo career but remained active musically, serving as Theodor's accompanist and occasionally appearing with him in concerts. She composed a number of pieces, mostly for children, but is best known for composing the music for the municipal prize anthem "Baltimore, Our Baltimore" in 1916. She died in July 1941.