First, there are simply more musicians playing period instruments at a higher level than in the U.S., and the historical performance scene is flourishing in Holland. Besides various annual festivals and university programs, it is home to an astonishing number of historical performance luminaries, Jaap ter Linden, Wieland Kuijken and Max von Egmond among them. Love also was a factor. Ludwig's long-time girlfriend, Cara Perkins OC '98, is a modern dancer and will travel with him. Finding a place where we could both study our respective art forms was a factor in what country I applied to.
Historical performance seeks to understand the artistic and cultural context of a piece of music.
I imagine that being in the land of the composers of the music that I love will be a very rich experience. Studying with great teachers among talented students can't hurt, either. Ludwig began his study of the instrument while a high school student in Amherst, Massachusetts. At Oberlin, he performed with the Oberlin Baroque Ensemble, and collaborated with composition prof Anna Rubin on Seachanges, her work for tape and viola da gamba. He has performed with Wien Barock, The King's Noyse and Concerto Palatino.