Every Thursday · first session freeRiga’s English Language Popular Music ChoirSing the music you love. Meet people you’ll want to see again.
Riga’s English language pop and rock choir, for embassy teams, international professionals, students, visitors and Latvians who love to sing in English. No auditions, no experience, no sheet music: just great songs, sung together, every Thursday evening in central Riga. Your first session is on us.
- First session completely free
- Every Thursday, 18:00
- No audition, no experience
- No sheet music
- Sung in English
- Central Riga
Everyone welcome
Whoever brought you to Riga, there’s a place for you here
Riga is full of people who arrived for a posting, a job, a degree or a few weeks’ adventure, and who would love a reason to meet others. Riga Popular Music Choir is that reason, every Thursday, in English.
Thursday evenings, central Riga
session
Embassy & diplomatic community
Posted to Riga for a few years? Thursday evenings with people from every corner of the city, in English, with none of the protocol.
International professionals
Relocated for work, working remotely or building a business here: an easy, regular way to meet people outside the office.
Visiting Riga
In town for a few weeks, a semester or a long stay? Your first session is free, so simply come and sing with us.
Students
Erasmus, exchange or studying full time in Riga: student membership works out at €10 a rehearsal.
Latvians who love English songs
If you sing along to Queen in the car, you are one of us. Anyone comfortable singing in English is welcome.
Couples, friends & newcomers
Come alone or bring someone. Most people arrive knowing nobody; by the third week they know half the room.
Coming with colleagues from an embassy, company or university? Each of you can book a free first session below, all on the same Thursday.
A different kind of choir
This is not a traditional choir
Latvia has one of the world’s great choral traditions, and Riga Popular Music Choir isn’t trying to compete with it. We offer something deliberately different: contemporary songs rather than a classical repertoire, relaxed participation rather than competition, and an English speaking international community rather than a closed local ensemble.
- Contemporary pop and rock songs
- No auditions, ever
- No sheet music requirement
- An international, English speaking community
- Professional musical leadership
- A relaxed, sociable atmosphere
Why people actually stay
Come for the music. Stay for the people.
Moving city, or country, can make building a genuine friendship circle surprisingly hard. Riga Popular Music Choir gives you a reason to meet the same group of people every single week, without the artificial atmosphere of a networking event. Music gives you something to do together. Friendship is what tends to follow.
The music
Songs you’ll actually want to sing
Great popular music from the 1970s through to today: anthems, power ballads, classic rock and modern pop. Repertoire changes over time; the names below are illustrative examples, not a guaranteed setlist.
What to expect
What happens at a rehearsal?
Arrival and catch up
Doors open ten minutes early. Grab a seat, say hello, most people know at least one face by their third week.
Vocal warm up
A short, professionally led warm up. No experience assumed, no wrong notes.
Learn by ear
We build songs section by section, by listening and repeating. No sheet music, no music theory required.
Put the harmonies together
Parts come together once everyone's comfortable with their own line.
Sing the full arrangement
The whole thing, together, properly, this is the part people come back for.
Finish on something big
We end on something high energy. Some people head off, plenty stay for a drink nearby.
Never sung before?
We built this choir for exactly that
What if I can't sing?
Most people who say this can sing perfectly well, they've just never had a relaxed place to try. We teach every part by ear, at a pace built for beginners.
What if I don't know my voice type?
You don't need to. Our music leader will help you find a comfortable part in your first few rehearsals, no prior knowledge assumed.
What if I come alone?
Most people do, at first. It's genuinely one of the easiest ways to meet people in Riga, precisely because everyone's there for the same reason.
What if English isn't my first language?
That's completely fine. Many members aren't native English speakers, the choir is built for an international community, not just native speakers.
Will I have to sing alone?
No. You'll always be singing as part of a group.
Do I need to read music?
No. We teach everything by ear.
Do I need to audition?
No, there is no audition to join.
Am I too old?
No. The choir welcomes adults of every age, 18 and up.
Behind the choir
A proven concept, brought to Riga
The team behind Riga Popular Music Choir previously created and developed the highly successful Edinburgh Popular Music Choir in Scotland, professionally led rehearsals, contemporary arrangements and a genuine social community, built over years of running an adult popular music choir. Riga Popular Music Choir brings that same proven concept to Riga’s international community.
The proven concept, in performance
Rīgas Privātā Mūzikas Skola, in Riga
How it works
From curious to singing in four easy steps
Book a free Thursday
Choose the rehearsal that suits you. Takes a minute.
Come and sing
No audition, no preparation. Your first session is on us.
Join 5 weeks at a time
€55 a block (€50 students), paid online in a minute.
Learn your part at home
Your own members' area, with your part and the backing tracks.
Included with membership
Your own rehearsal tracks, on your phone
Every member gets a private members’ area. Learn your line on the tram, in the kitchen or on the way to work, and arrive on Thursday already feeling confident.
- Your own vocal part, recorded for every song, from bass to soprano
- The YouTube backing track, ready to sing along to
- Slow it down and loop the tricky bars until they stick
- Attendance, payments and printable receipts in one place
This week
Don’t Stop Me Now
Queen
Alto 1 Your part
Membership
Try it free. Then sing 5 weeks at a time.
Your first session is completely free, with no card and no commitment. If you love it, membership runs in simple 5-week blocks: no contract, no subscription, ideal whether you live here or are in Riga for a season.
Your first session: free
Pick any Thursday, come along, sing. Nothing to pay and nothing to sign.
Standard membership
That is €11 a rehearsal.
- 5 Thursday rehearsals, 90 minutes each
- Professionally led warm ups & arrangements
- Your own part's rehearsal tracks, plus backing tracks
- Performance, recording & social opportunities
Student membership
For full-time students aged 18+ with valid student ID.
That is €10 a rehearsal.
- Everything in standard membership
- Same rehearsals, tracks & social calendar
- Valid student ID checked when you join
Blocks are paid in advance and in full, securely online, and are not refundable, as places are allocated to the capacity of the room. You may miss any week you need to, but missed weeks are not carried over, extended or refunded. Some social events carry a separate cost where a third-party venue or ticket is involved. Already a member? Sign in to the members’ area.
Our founding season
Be part of the beginning
Riga Popular Music Choir is up and running, and still in its founding season. Join now and you will help shape the choir’s personality, its traditions and the songs it becomes known for.
Your first session is on us
Every Thursday, 18:00–19:30 · Blaumaņa iela 32-6, Centra rajons, central Riga · choose any Thursday · free, booking required · no audition, no preparation, come as you are.
Location
Central Riga, easy to reach
Rehearsals take place at Blaumaņa iela 32-6, Centra rajons, Rīga, LV-1011, a short walk from the city centre and Vecrīga (Old Riga), with convenient access from major public transport routes.
Book your place
Your free first session
- 1Choose your Thursday and book below.
- 2We confirm by email with everything you need to know.
- 3Come and sing. It costs nothing.
- 4Love it? Join 5 weeks at a time, paid online in a minute.
Frequently asked questions
Questions and answers
Is there an English speaking choir in Riga?
Yes. Riga Popular Music Choir rehearses every Thursday evening, 18:00 to 19:30, in central Riga, in English, singing contemporary pop and rock. No audition, no experience needed, and your first session is completely free.
Can foreigners join a choir in Riga?
Yes. Riga Popular Music Choir was built for Riga's international community: embassy and consular staff and their families, international professionals, students, long-term residents and visitors, alongside English speaking Latvians.
I'm only in Riga for a few weeks. Can I still come?
Please do. Your first session is completely free, so a visit costs you nothing. If you're staying a little longer, membership runs in five-week blocks rather than a long contract, which suits a posting, a semester or a long stay.
Can Latvians join the English choir?
Absolutely. The choir operates in English, but anyone comfortable singing in English is welcome, whatever their nationality.
Is Riga Popular Music Choir suitable for beginners?
Yes. Complete beginners are genuinely welcome. We teach every song by ear, section by section, and nobody is ever asked to sing alone.
Do I need to audition for Riga Popular Music Choir?
No. There is no audition for any part of the choir.
Do I need to read music?
No. Songs are taught by listening and repetition. Members also get recordings of their own vocal part to practise with at home, so nobody needs sheet music.
What songs does Riga Popular Music Choir sing?
Contemporary popular music: think Queen, ABBA, Coldplay, Adele, Fleetwood Mac and more. Repertoire changes over time; these are illustrative examples, not a fixed setlist.
How much does a choir in Riga cost?
Your first session is completely free. After that, membership is €55 for a block of 5 Thursday rehearsals, or €50 with a valid student ID, paid securely online in advance.
What if I miss a Thursday?
You are welcome to miss any week you need to, but each 5-week block is paid in advance and in full, and missed weeks are not carried over, extended or refunded.
What do members get between rehearsals?
A private members' area with a recording of your own vocal part for every song, the other parts too, and a backing track to sing along with, plus your attendance and receipts.
Where can I meet English speaking people in Riga?
Riga Popular Music Choir gives you the same group of people to meet every Thursday evening, no small talk required, since you already have something to do together.
Can international students join?
Yes, students aged 18 and over are welcome, and a discounted student rate applies with valid student identification.
Where does Riga Popular Music Choir rehearse?
At Blaumaņa iela 32, in central Riga, a short walk from the Old Town.
Are there social activities for expats in Riga through the choir?
Yes. Alongside weekly rehearsals, the choir programme includes social evenings, concerts and other activities across the season.
What night does the choir rehearse?
Every Thursday evening, 18:00 to 19:30.
Can I try the choir before joining?
Yes. Your first session is completely free. Book the Thursday that suits you below, as places are limited by the size of the rehearsal room.
Can I bring a friend, partner or colleague?
Yes, and many people do. Each person books their own free first session so we can keep a place for them.
Do I have to perform?
Performance opportunities are a real part of membership, but joining the choir is not a professional performance contract. There is no requirement to take part in every public performance.
Do I have to sing alone?
No. You will never unexpectedly be asked to sing a solo part.
Can older adults join?
Yes. The choir is open to all adults aged 18 and over, whatever your age.
Do men and women join?
Yes, the choir welcomes adults of any gender, and we have parts from bass to soprano.
When will Latvian and Russian language choirs launch?
The English language choir is up and running every Thursday. Latvian and Russian language choirs are planned for the future. Register your interest below and we'll be in touch when a date is confirmed.
More languages, coming soon
Latviešu koris · Русскоязычный хор
The English language choir sings every Thursday. Latvian and Russian language choirs are planned for the future. Register your interest below and we’ll email you the moment a date is confirmed.
Your Thursday nights are about to get considerably better.
Every Thursday, 18:00–19:30 · central Riga · first session free · no audition, no experience required
Members’ sign in