b. 1973
Instrument: 2 instruments: Justin Maucôtel, Mirecourt, built ca. 1830 and Strohviol, built ca. 1910
Axel Ruge studied at the Musikhochschule Mannheim, Norges Musikhøjskole in Oslo, and at the Berliner Philharmoniker Orchestra-Academy.
Since the beginning of his career as a professional double bas player Axel has been involved in a row of contemporary experimental music projects together with musicians and composers in the circle around Professor Ulrich Süße in Stuttgart. He expanded his activity within the field when he, in 1996, became member of the ensemble Forum 21 that included many first performances and commissions in the repertoire.
Today Axel Ruge is 2. Konzertmeister in the double bass section of the WDR Symphony Orchestra in Cologne. He held the same position in the Radio Symphony Orchestra in Copenhagen between 2000 and 2005, with a break of one year where Axel was 1. solo double bass player in the Royal Danish Orchestra in 2003.
Besides his work with the WDR Symphony Orchestra and Athelas, Axel frequently performs as guest with some of Europe’s leading orchestras such as the Berlin Philharmonic, Mahler Chamber Orchestra, Deutsches Symphony Orchestra Berlin as well as Germany’s most distinguished ensemble for contemporary music, Ensemble Modern.