(b Ramallah, Palestine, 1972). This Palestinian 'ud player, composer and teacher began to study 'ud with Issa Boulos at a relatively young age. He showed extraordinary talent in performing classical maqam repertoire, and later entered the National Conservatory of Palestine in Ramallah to pursue the study of the 'ud and maqam theory with Khaled Jubran. He graduated in 2000 and continued working with several groups including Sariyyat Ramallah Dance Group, al-Funun, and Nawa Ensemble. While offering classes at Birzeit University, Samer accepted a full-time faculty post at the National Conservatory of Palestine where he graduated and founded his own group and is preparing for a CD release of his own compositions. His music sustains intimate links to the maqam tradition and he continues to treat his original pieces and executions with delicacy and innovation. He is currently considered one of the best 'ud players of his generation. Both his performance and compositional styles stand uniquely and impressively forward-looking.
