Student Snapshot: Music helps Ludwig Höfle feel at home in Latvia 

Ludwig Höfle, a second-year medical student at Rīga Stradiņš University (RSU), hails from Frankfurt am Main, Germany. As he enters his fourth semester, Ludwig is still exploring the many specialities within medicine, while showing a particular interest in internal medicine and paediatrics. 'I’m glad to still have a lot of time to make that decision,' he says, looking forward to experiencing various fields before settling on a speciality. 

'Singing plays a big role in helping me feel at home, so I am glad to have found a choir at RSU,' Ludwig shares.

His discovery of the RSU mixed choir Rīga came through a suggestion from his roommate, and he instantly knew it was something he wanted to be a part of. For Ludwig, having a balance between his rigorous studies and meaningful free time is crucial. 'Singing calms me, and I’ve made good new friendships,' he says. 

While the choir experience at RSU is different from what Ludwig is used to, especially in terms of the sound and the Latvian choir culture, he finds it exciting. Learning new pieces is a challenge, but one he eagerly embraces. 'When we start on something new, I pour over the sheet music before I slowly grasp what a song is about. There are so many  different facets to each song! They are all unique.' Ludwig exclaims.

Ludwig singing, second from the right in the top row during a concert this year with the RSU mixed choir Rīga.

The RSU choir performing in May 2024, dressed in the choir's traditional blue. The concert took place in the Riga Old Town and was dedicated to composers celebrating anniversaries this year.

Although Ludwig is still learning Latvian, he finds the language's pronunciation manageable, despite some challenges. 'The Latvian pronunciation is not too complicated: the letters are usually pronounced in one way only, which makes it easier. But there is a lot to work on,' he admits, particularly when it comes to fast songs where precise pronunciation is crucial.

‘I am particularly scared of “s” and “š”. Of course, I know how they are pronounced, but in a fast song, I don’t have time to think about which one it is! If I pick the wrong sound, it can be very audible…’

‘At choir practice, while my language skills aren't strong enough to understand everything being said, a lot of information and musical instructions are conveyed through emotions and gesticulation. My fellow singers always help explain anything I’ve missed.’ 

The RSU choir's conductor, Evita Taranda, says of Ludwig: 'He has an outstanding ability in singing lightning-fast Latvian folk song texts and in learning the tenor parts.' 

Beyond music, Ludwig has also been introduced to other aspects of Latvian culture, such as traditional folk dances and folk costumes, which he finds fascinating. 'We don’t see anything similar in Germany too often and it seems very nice to see people be connected with their country and traditions in this way,' he notes. And when it comes to food, he’s particularly fond of Latvian garlic bread (ķiploku grauzdiņi), which he says is 'the best thing you guys have.' 

Although Ludwig has yet to travel extensively across Latvia, he has enjoyed visits to Jūrmala and Sigulda. While he’s currently not involved in any other student groups or associations, Ludwig's journey at RSU continues to be enriched by his experiences, both in and out of the classroom. Through music and his exploration of medicine, Ludwig is finding his place in Latvia, one note and one study session at a time.