Sri. Sameer.L.Rao
Sri Sameer.L.Rao was born on May 12, 1982 in Shimoga, in Karnataka. His father Sri V.N. Laxminarayana is a professor of English and his mother Smt S Vanaja is a house wife.
Sameer evinced keen interest in Bansuri (bamboo flute) at the age of eleven. He started practising Hindustani music on his reed taught by the talented young guru Pt. Veerabhadriah Hiremath, (the Disciple of Dr. Puttaraj Gawai of Veershwara Punyashrama, Gadag), at Saptaswara Hindustani Music School and Swara Sankula Hindustani Music School in Mysore.
Right from the beginning Sameer had a special liking for the enchanting Bansuri of Pt. Hariprasad Chaurasia. As his Gawai guru laid the firm foundation of music in him, the young boy did his Riyaz relentlessly for eight years with the blessed name of Panditji on his lips and the meditative music in his ears. He was fortunate to have been accepted as his disciple by the world-renowned flute wizard. Ever since, Sameer has been practising Bansuri at the feet of his Guru as an inmate of Vrindaban Gurukul, Mumbai.
A Hindustani Classical music Vidwat degree holder from the Karnataka secondary educational board and a B High Grade artist, graded by the All India Radio, Sameer has played as a young artiste at various forums arranged and sponsored by All India Radio, Doordarshan, various private television channels and the Dept. of Kannada and Culture, Government of Karnataka. He has been invited by many reputed organizations of music lovers all over India, Switzerland and Germany. He has also composed music for many Kannada, Marathi and Hindi plays apart from playing for Dance ballets of various dance styles and many music albums. Sameer also accompanies his Guru Pt. Chaurasia in his concerts regularly.
Sameer was selected for the scholarship for the year 1997-1998 by the music & dance academy of Karnataka. He got the first prize in 'Kala Pratibhotsav' 2004 and got the 'Yuva Pratibha' award conducted by the Directorate of Kannada and culture Govt. of Karnataka. Sameer was adjudged the best, and got the 'Award of Excellence' from Sri Guru Ganayogi Panchakshara Sangeet Yogashram Trust, Chennai in 2004. The Nada Bramha Sangeet Sabha of Mysore conferred "Nada Kishore' for the best performance for the Classical Instrumental music during the "Nada Kishorotsava 2006". Recently, in 2008, the Sur Singar Samsad of mumbai, awarded the title 'Surmani".
At present, Sameer lives with his Guru Pt. Hariprasad Chaurasia at Vrindaban Gurukul in Mumbai.