Porto Seguro's members met through their connections with the Hungry Monk Music Studio in West Ashley but, it was not until they began working together, that they discovered three had attended the New England Conservatory in Boston. Each member hails from a different home town and each has developed quite a different resume. And although they had no idea they shared a common alma mater, they are all delighted to call the Lowcountry home. They are playing music that is definitely not classical but it puts their Conservatory trained playing chops and years of honing ensemble skills to good use.

Tom Noren,(guitar) with a degree in guitar performance from the New England Conservatory in Boston, is the Brazilian expert in the group. He grew up in Rio listening to a mix of English and American rock, classical music and Brazilian "MPB" (popular music). When he began his guitar studies he…