Arsen Bekirov is a Crimean Tatar tenor, Honored Artist of the Republic of Crimea and the Republic of Tatarstan, and a soloist of the Crimean State Philharmonic and of the legendary Crimean Tatar folk ensemble Qirim.
He first stepped on stage at the age of five. Since 2002 he has been a soloist of the Crimean State Philharmonic. He graduated from music college in 2005 and from the Donetsk State Academy of Music (conservatory) in 2010, specializing in vocal performance.
His first solo program was presented in 2006 at the Ukrainian Drama Theatre in Simferopol — the debut album "Eminim" ("I Am Certain"), featuring songs in Crimean Tatar, Ukrainian, Russian and Romanian. With the ensembles Teselli and Qirim he has toured Turkey, Poland, Romania and Greece; in 2015, with the Qirim ensemble, he brought Crimean Tatar music to the concert halls of Kazan and Naberezhnye Chelny in Tatarstan.
He was named Honored Artist of the Republic of Crimea in 2008 for his contribution to Crimean Tatar culture, and Honored Artist of the Republic of Tatarstan in 2016.
In 2025 he released his debut solo EP "Qirim" — nine original tracks bridging Crimean Tatar melodic tradition and contemporary ethno-pop. The music video for "Seni Seven" received the QARADENIZ Production award. In April 2026, in Istanbul, he recorded 31 songs with Grammy-winning producer Ian Brennan (Tinariwen, Zomba Prison Project); the material spans the life cycle of Crimean Tatar song tradition and includes a cycle in memory of the 1944 deportation.
Alongside his stage career, Arsen teaches voice at the Fevzi Yakubov Crimean Engineering and Pedagogical University, completed postgraduate studies in pedagogy in 2026 (researching moral and spiritual education through Crimean Tatar folklore), and is the author of a methodological textbook on Crimean Tatar vocal pedagogy. He is the founder of the Arsen Bekirov Vocal School in Simferopol.
Key Milestones
Soloist of the Crimean Philharmonic
Beginning of professional stage career at the Crimean State Philharmonic.
Music College
Graduated from music college in vocal performance.
First solo album "Eminim"
Debut program at the Ukrainian Drama Theatre in Simferopol. Songs in four languages.
Honored Artist of Crimea
Honorary title for contribution to Crimean Tatar culture.
Donetsk Conservatory
Graduated from the Donetsk State Academy of Music.
Tatarstan Tour
First Crimean Tatar music performances in Kazan and Naberezhnye Chelny.
Honored Artist of Tatarstan
Federal recognition as Honored Artist of the Republic of Tatarstan.
Qirim EP & QARADENIZ Award
Debut EP of 9 tracks. "Seni Seven" video wins QARADENIZ Production award.
31 songs with Ian Brennan
Istanbul recording sessions with Grammy-winning producer. Life cycle of Crimean Tatar song tradition.
Postgraduate Degree in Pedagogy
Completed postgraduate research on moral education through Crimean Tatar folklore.