Bernd Ruf
is currently one of the most creative musical personalities in the field of Classical Crossover. He developed the Crossover Symphonies, special orchestral programmes with African, Asian and Latin American musicians, with jazz and rock musicians. He has worked on rock symphonic projects with Jon Lord (Deep Purple), Roger Hodgson (Supertramp), Ian Anderson (Jethro Tull), Bobby Kimball (Toto), Jimi Jamison (Survivor), Paul Carrack (Mike & the Mechanics), Steve Hackett (Genesis) and Sir Paul McCartney. An experienced interpreter of contemporary music, he regularly conducts world premieres in close collaboration with composers. As a guest conductor, he has conducted the Bochum Symphony Orchestra, the Cayuga Chamber Orchestra New York, the Tonkünstler Orchestra Vienna and the radio orchestras of the ORF, NDR and SWR, among others. As a musical conductor, he has conducted performances of Les Miserables, Miss Saigon, Beauty and the Beast, Dance of the Vampires and The Lion King, among others. Bernd Ruf is a regular guest conductor with the Staatskapelle Halle. For the Handel Festival in Halle he conceives and conducts the annual open air event Bridges to Classics. From 1997 to 2004 Bernd Ruf was a regular guest conductor with the Stuttgart Chamber Orchestra. During this time he presented symphonic world music and jazz programmes.

In addition to his activities as a conductor, Bernd Ruf has been playing in the ensemble "Tango Five" (since this year under the name ASSAI) for more than 25 years and is duo partner of the bandoneon master Raul Jaurena in the Jaurena-Ruf-Project.

Bernd Ruf has received various awards, including from the Karajan Foundation Berlin, the Kunststiftung Baden-Württemberg and a Grammy nomination. In 2004, Bernd Ruf was appointed professor for popular music, jazz and world music at the University of Music Lübeck.