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Arif Bagirov was born in the Autonomous Republic of Nakhchivan of the Republic of Azerbaijan in 1961. He completed the five year tar performance class at the Nakhchivan Music School. In 1979, he graduated from a four-year-course of study at the Azer Zeynalov Music College. He worked as a soloist in the Azerbaijan Concert Union and accompanied a number of great artists of Azerbaijan such as Shovkat Alekberova and Tokezban Ismayilova.

In 1981, he taught in Tashkent Music School Number 1 as a tar teacher. While teaching in Uzbekistan, he accompanied two of the greatest musical legendaries of the Central Asian Republic of Uzbekistan Ilyas Malayev and Mahabbat Shamayeva. Several years ago, he and his family moved to the States and since then they have lived in the New York-New Jersey areas. Presently, Mr. Bagirov is the tar soloist in the Silk Road Ensemble.