Rolf Becker
Composer · Arranger · Conductor
Four Decades of Music Across Continents
Rolf Becker is a German composer, arranger, and conductor with more than four decades of international professional experience. His career encompasses Big Band and orchestral music, television and film productions, studio recordings, and performances with internationally acclaimed artists.
Having worked extensively throughout Europe and Asia, Becker has developed a distinctive musical approach that combines the traditions of orchestral writing with the expressive freedom of jazz and contemporary music.
Currently based in Beijing, China, he continues to compose, arrange, and conduct, bringing original compositions and sophisticated arrangements to professional orchestras and ensembles.
From Germany's Leading Big Bands to International Productions
Rolf Becker's musical journey began at the age of ten with the clarinet, followed by the tenor saxophone and flute. His exceptional musical abilities soon opened the door to a professional career that would take him around the world.
At the age of twenty, he became the youngest member of the renowned Big Band der Bundeswehr, performing internationally while pursuing jazz studies at the Cologne Conservatory of Music under the leadership of acclaimed trombonist and educator Jiggs Whigham.
In 1985, at just 23 years old, Becker successfully auditioned for the alto saxophone position with the RIAS Big Band Berlin. His outstanding sight-reading skills and versatility as a multi-instrumentalist subsequently led to collaborations with leading German orchestras, including the Paul Kuhn Big Band, Günter Noris Orchestra, and HR Big Band.
Alongside his work as an instrumentalist, Becker increasingly established himself as a composer and arranger, writing for television productions, recording companies, concert performances, and international artists.
His professional collaborations included Sammy Davis Jr., Shirley Bassey, Caterina Valente, Eartha Kitt, Engelbert, Gloria Gaynor, Jennifer Rush, and Sylvia Vrethammar, among many others.
Among his more recent compositions is “From The Top,” recorded by internationally acclaimed Swedish vocalist Sylvia Vrethammar for her stage-anniversary celebrations in 2025. Alongside the released recording, Becker has created an expanded arrangement for full Big Band, Strings, Timpani, and Harp, demonstrating his distinctive approach to combining jazz and symphonic orchestration.
Between 2000 and 2004, he served as musical director for German recording artist HEINO, producing four albums for BMG and participating in five major concert tours.
His work as a composer, arranger, and musical director also extended to international corporate productions for companies including BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Porsche, Volkswagen, IBM, and ESSO, combining sophisticated musical arrangements with large-scale live entertainment.
These formative decades established the artistic foundation for Becker's later work as a composer, arranger, and conductor in Asia.
From the Archives — Live Television Performances
Rolf Becker's early professional career included numerous live television productions and performances with renowned artists throughout Germany and Europe.
Among these engagements was his work with Band 5&6, a versatile German television show band known for its energetic live performances, musical precision, and stylistic diversity.
These historical recordings from 1989 feature Becker on alto saxophone, performing alongside fellow musicians in arrangements ranging from sophisticated contemporary pop to swinging jazz.
Unlike many television productions that relied on prerecorded backing tracks, these performances showcase the ensemble playing entirely live, capturing the spontaneity, energy, and musical interaction of a professional show band.
Becker subsequently took over the musical leadership of Band 5&6, further expanding his experience as a bandleader and musical director.
Shanghai — Building a Big Band Legacy
In 2004, Rolf Becker relocated to Shanghai, beginning an influential new chapter in his international musical career.
Shortly after his arrival, he was commissioned to establish a 17-piece Big Band for Club Shanghai, contributing to the development of the city's modern Big Band scene.
In February 2006, Becker conducted the Shanghai Jazz Orchestra's first official public Big Band concert since 1940, marking a significant moment in the revival of large-ensemble jazz performance in Shanghai.
That same year, he created and conducted Jazzy Mozart, a special concert production celebrating the 250th anniversary of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's birth. Combining jazz, Latin, salsa, and orchestral elements, the project brought together the Shanghai Jazz Orchestra, Latin percussion, and strings at the Shanghai Concert Hall. The performance was broadcast on Chinese television.
In August 2006, Becker founded the JZ Big Band, which became a prominent ensemble in Shanghai's jazz scene. Performing regularly at the legendary JZ Club, the orchestra developed a distinctive musical identity through Becker's original arrangements and artistic direction.
Throughout his 18 years in Shanghai, Becker worked extensively as a composer, arranger, conductor, and musical director for international festivals, concert productions, film and television projects, and major cultural events.
His work included special arrangements and performances involving Charles Aznavour, Laura Fygi, Jin Xing, Cui Jian, and other internationally recognized artists.
Among his notable projects were performances at the Shanghai Concert Hall, appearances at the JZ Festival, the 2011 TAG Heuer Jazz Week, and numerous international cultural and corporate events.
Alongside his professional activities, Becker maintained a strong commitment to music education, collaborating with international schools and educational institutions, conducting workshops, and serving as an APAC Band Guest Conductor in 2017.
His years in Shanghai established a lasting artistic connection with China's jazz community and provided the foundation for his continued work as a composer, arranger, and conductor in Asia.
Beijing — A New Chapter
Following 18 successful years in Shanghai and two years in Jakarta, Indonesia, Rolf Becker relocated to Beijing in July 2024, continuing his international career as a composer, arranger, and conductor.
In Beijing, Becker began collaborating with the Blue Note China Jazz Orchestra, one of mainland China's professional Big Bands. Working with accomplished musicians and versatile instrumentalists, he continues to explore the artistic possibilities of contemporary Big Band writing, sophisticated orchestration, and expressive jazz performance.
His collaboration with the orchestra provides an opportunity to present original compositions and arrangements that combine traditional Big Band instrumentation with contemporary musical influences.
Sketches Of A City — An Original Jazz Suite
Among Becker's most ambitious recent compositions is Sketches Of A City, an original jazz suite inspired by the energy, diversity, and atmosphere of urban life.
Written for Big Band and strings, with additional instrumental colors including Chinese dizi flute, Latin percussion, and DJ elements, the suite explores the sounds and experiences of a modern city through a series of contrasting musical movements.
From the awakening energy of Sunrise & Rush Hour to the contrasting atmospheres of In The Park, At The Playground, and At The Shopping Street, the composition combines jazz improvisation, orchestral textures, rhythmic diversity, and contemporary musical storytelling.
The project reflects Becker's continuing interest in expanding the expressive possibilities of large jazz ensembles while creating music that connects different cultures and musical traditions.
Continuing an International Musical Journey
Alongside his conducting activities, Becker continues to compose and arrange for professional ensembles, develop new concert programs, and collaborate with musicians and institutions internationally.
His work in Beijing represents a continuation of the artistic philosophy that has guided his career for more than four decades: combining musical craftsmanship, creative exploration, and the distinctive energy of live ensemble performance.
MusicMyLanguage — Learn. Practice. Perform.
Throughout his international career, Rolf Becker has maintained a strong commitment to sharing his musical knowledge and professional experience with the next generation of musicians.
Alongside his work as a composer, arranger, and conductor, he has authored seven instrumental teaching books and developed educational concepts designed to help musicians improve their technical abilities, sight-reading skills, musical interpretation, and understanding of ensemble performance.
His educational activities have included workshops, masterclasses, ensemble coaching, and guest conducting engagements at international schools and music institutions across Asia.
Drawing on more than four decades of professional experience, Becker established MusicMyLanguage as a platform connecting the practical realities of professional music-making with accessible, structured educational resources.
The platform offers original compositions, professionally crafted Big Band and small-ensemble arrangements, instrumental play-along materials, and specialized practice systems.
Among its educational projects is Inside The Arrangement, a series exploring the creative and technical decisions behind professional arranging — from rhythm-section writing and instrumental ranges to orchestration, voicing, and musical expression.
MusicMyLanguage reflects Becker's belief that musical excellence develops through a combination of disciplined practice, artistic curiosity, and practical ensemble experience.
Learn. Practice. Perform. — three principles that have shaped his own musical journey and continue to guide his work as a composer, arranger, conductor, and educator.
Professional Engagements & Collaborations
Rolf Becker continues to collaborate with professional orchestras, Big Bands, concert promoters, educational institutions, and musicians internationally.
Drawing on more than four decades of experience in composition, arranging, conducting, and musical direction, he brings artistic vision, practical orchestral expertise, and a deep understanding of ensemble performance to each project.
His professional activities include:
Guest Conducting & Musical Direction — Big Band concerts, jazz orchestras, special productions, and international music projects.
Composition & Commissioned Arrangements — Original compositions, tailor-made arrangements, and orchestration for professional ensembles, concert productions, and recording projects.
Concert Productions & Special Projects — Development of musical concepts, repertoire, and arrangements for festivals, cultural events, and international productions.
Workshops & Masterclasses — Ensemble coaching, instrumental workshops, sight-reading development, and professional insights into jazz interpretation and arranging.
Let's Make Music Together
For conducting engagements, commissioned compositions and arrangements, workshops, or international artistic collaborations, please get in touch.
Rolf Becker
Composer · Arranger · Conductor
Beijing, China | International Engagements Welcome