Minos the Saint
Minos the Saint is a Baton Rouge-based chamber-folk band. Music school nerds at heart, the band is equally inspired by the sounds of Louisiana as it is by the symphony. The band mixes violin, trombone, and French horn with accordion, singer-songwriter vibes, and the occasional second-line. Since the band began playing in 2013, it has shared bills with Phosphorescent, Wild Child, Brass Bed, Cardinal Sons, The Brad Walker Quintet, Crystal Bright & the Silver Hands, Mississippi Rail Co., Belle Adair, The Mercy Brothers, Rareluth, and others. With versatility in size and instrumentation, the band conforms to intimate listening rooms as well as large venues and festivals. The band has performed at such venues across South Louisiana including Varsity Theatre, The Spanish Moon, Gasa Gasa, Artmosphere, House of Blues, Republic New Orleans, Chickie Wah Wah, Red Dragon Listening Room, Marigny Opera House, The AllWays Lounge, and Cafe Istanbul, and festivals such as French Quarter Fest, North Gate Fest, FestForAll, and Sunday in the Park. Minos the Saint released its debut full length album, Awake and Dream, in February 2016.
Peter Simón
(Vocals & Guitar)
Born and bred in the strawberry fields of Ponchatoula, frontman Peter Simón grew up singing and playing several instruments. He found his creative voice during an extended stay in Spain. Simón’s musical calling cards include his first-person lyrical style; his urgent, soulful voice; and the driving yet calculated guitar chops that power the band.
Ben Herrington
(Keyboards & Trombone)
Ben Herrington is a full-time musician from Baton Rouge, Louisiana. He has performed on numerous festivals including New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival, Festival International in Lafayette, French Quarter Fest, and numerous others. He has performed as an accordionist with Baton Rouge Symphony Orchestra, the University of Lafayette at Louisiana Jazz Ensemble and the LSU Symphony Orchestra. He has performed on tenor and bass trombone with the Acadiana Symphony Orchestra and on tenor trombone with Baton Rouge Symphony Orchestra. A graduate of the Louisiana State University School of Music, Herrington attained degrees in trombone performance and instrumental music education while also studying jazz piano and composition. Since graduating from LSU, Herrington has translated his knowledge of various musical instruments and styles to live performances and recordings with a large variety of Louisiana musicians including Moon Honey, Gregg Wright, A Baton Rouge Acoustic Christmas, Particle Devotion, England in 1819, Prom Date, Clay Parker, Jacob Zachary, Luke Ash, Vivaz, Eric Schmitt, Ben Bell, Becca Babin, Ryan Harris & Co., Pacifico, and Jodi James. Herrington frequently collaborates with Louisiana songwriters and bands on live performances and studio projects, alternating between trombone, accordion, bass guitar, mandolin, vocals and keyboards. In addition to Minos the Saint, Herrington is in the jazz-rock band Burris and a frequent performer with the improvisation-based live art project, Spontaneous Combustion.
Micah Blouin
(drums & percussion)
A native of Brusly, LA, Micah Blouin is the dynamic pulse behind Minos the Saint. Always serving the song, he is consistantly inspired by the ideas of his bandmates. Equally versed in the classical and “other” ilks, Micah brings a touch and sensibility not heard in just “a drummer”. Blouin is a relentless student of the musical styles of all cultures. He is most passionate about teaching and learning any and all things.
Joel Willson
(Violin & Vocals)
Joel Willson earned his chops studying classical music at LSU. The conflict between form and improvisation and the beauty in dissonance is what motivates his sonic reality. Joel enjoys pushing harmonic boundaries, energetic performances, and blending his own unique style of classical, rock and southern Louisiana influences in his emotional style of playing.
Arisia Gilmore
(French horn)
From the foothills of the Rocky Mountains, Arisia left the Mile-High City for the barely-above-sea-level city of Baton Rouge, where she found her place in the music world. Arisia performs in orchestras and musical theater pits throughout southern Louisiana, and can even be found teaching kids how to play this so called “French” horn. In the snobby world of classical music, we just call it a “horn,” but, as the French hornists say… “c’est la vie!” Arisia loves playing with the great musicians of Minos the Saint, where she can still utilize her classical chops while also feeling like a rock star. Arisia’s horn is named Ricky, and he likes to have people cheer for him.
Jessica Ottaviano Sigur
(Trombone)
Jessica Ottaviano Sigur is the trombonist and publicist of Minos the Saint. In addition to her role with the band, she performs freelance with ensembles in the Baton Rouge area such as the Baton Rouge Symphony Orchestra, Theatre Baton Rouge Pit Orchestra, and Cool Winter Nights and Hot Jazz Ensemble. Jessica has worked for various local nonprofit arts organizations since 2013, fundraising, marketing and advocating for the arts in the Capital City. Originally from Tampa, Florida, Jessica landed in Baton Rouge by way of LSU where she earned her B.A. in Music Education.
