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I’ve been composing since 2005, when I was a music student at Earlham College. The recordings below reflect some of the pieces now available for purchase and performance. Contact me to talk about commissions and learn about other pieces available or in the works.

Vos Advenae

This short motet, dedicated to my dad, Dan Henkel, was premiered by Voces Novae on April 12, 2026 in our spring concert, and performed again in a church service for the UU Church of Bloomington. I don’t have a good video to share, but this audio was taken at the premiere.

The Latin text is a Biblical passage that translates to:

“The land shall not be sold forever: for the land is mine; for you are strangers and sojourners with me. And in all the land of your possession you shall grant a redemption for the land.”

To me it’s about the fact that the land doesn’t belong to humans at all, and we will have to give it back someday. It’s about our duty to care for nature and treat it as if we were merely travelers through this land, and not owners who can take whatever we want.

Vos Advenae
Abby Henkel Roman, composer. Voces Novae, performer (dir. Susan Swaney)

Perigee

Voces Novae, led by Susan Swaney, performed “Perigee” in February 2025. Using poetry by Mary Craig, this a cappella piece for SATB choir and soloists is a setting of a birthday elegy for Mary’s son, Simon Craig Vodosek, who died of neuroblastoma at the age of 7 in 2004. “Perigee” received its world premiere on September 9, 2023 by VoxO in Orlando, FL, conducted by Claire Hodges.

Thank You

The Bloomington Chamber Singers, with funding from the Bloomington Arts Commission, commissioned the composition of a new piece for SATB a cappella choir titled “Thank You.” The poem, “Thank You,” was written by Ross Gay and used with permission.

Voces Novae performed the live premiere of “Thank You” on May 5, 2024. Ross Gay read three short essays from his most recent book, The Book of (More) Delights.

Sorrow is Not My Name

Poetry by Ross Gay (excerpt), used with permission. Read the poem here.

First recorded by the Bloomington UU Church choir in December 2021, directed by Susan Swaney. The live-performance premiere took place at Earlham College on April 29, 2022, conducted by Doug Shafer-Johnson. Bloomington Chamber Singers made the Bloomington premiere on November 11, 2022, conducted by Gerald Sousa.

Venite ad me omnes

Performed in June 2021 by the sopranos and altos of Voces Novae chamber choir in Bloomington, Indiana. Dir: Susan Swaney

 

Singing

From my days in Yamaha piano lessons, to the Indianapolis Children’s Choir, to Earlham College and beyond, sharing my voice with others has always brought me great joy. I pay close attention to intonation, blend, composer’s intent, conductor’s directions, and the emotions of the performers around me.

 
 

I was the Soprano I soloist for the Bloomington Chamber Singers’ 2018 performance of Gregorio Allegri’s “Miserere.”

With fellow soprano Claire Tafoya and pianist Paul Pisano, I produced this virtual duet of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s “Pie Jesu” in July 2020.

Performing Handel’s aria “I Know That My Redeemer Liveth” for a Messiah sing-along hosted by the Bloomington Chamber Singers in 2019.

Performing a short recitative from Handel’s Messiah for the Bloomington Chamber Singers, December 2019.