Rufus Ferguson is a multi-instrumentalist and educator who earned degrees from Western Michigan University under the mentorship of Roger Jones, Jeremy Siskind and Matthew Fries in jazz piano. In his professional career, Rufus actively shares the stage with award nominated and winning artists such as Dwight Adams, Robert Hurst, Rodney Whitaker, Ali Jackson, The Temptations, Wycliffe Gordon and more.

Rufus got his start studying classical piano at the age of 5. He became a gospel church organist at a young age and later began playing jazz piano at age 13. His dedication to being equally well-versed in multiple genres of music has made him a fixture in the national jazz, r&b and gospel music scenes. Rufus is an experienced performer, arranger, composer and teacher, specifically in the jazz genre. His chamber jazz arrangements have most recently been presented by his 9-piece ensemble at the 2018 Gilmore Keyboard Festival and his orchestral arrangements have been performed by the Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra. Rufus has performed at several festivals such as the Summer Solstice Jazz Festival in Lansing, Michigan, Notre Dame Jazz Festival, Elmhurst Jazz Festival, Flint Jazz Festival, Detroit Jazz Festival and the Jazz Education Network (JEN) Conference in Louisville, KY. He has also taught at many jazz camps including the Keith Hall Summer Drum Intensive and New York Voices Vocal Jazz Camp in Kalamazoo, Michigan, and the Show Choir Camps of America at Heidelberg University in Tiffin, Ohio.

Rufus has served as class piano instructor at Western Michigan University where he also directed the University Jazz Lab Band and was also Education Manager for the Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra. He also served as Assistant Professor of Jazz and Popular Music at Albion College and on the music faculty at Kalamazoo College. He currently serves as Professor of Music and Coordinator of Music and Music Technology Programs at Mott Community College.