The Spartanburg Philharmonic announced on May 13 that it will formally induct bluegrass banjo artist Kristin Scott Benson and internationally recognized violist Miles Hoffman into the Spartanburg Music Trail at a free public ceremony scheduled for Thursday, June 11, from 4 to 5 p.m. at the Barrett Room of the Downtown Spartanburg Library at 151 S. Church St.
The event, titled Unveil the Trail, will mark the installation of permanent markers honoring both artists along the trail — a downtown route that recognizes musicians and music figures with documented ties to Spartanburg. The event is free and open to the public.
Kristin Scott Benson is one of the most decorated bluegrass banjo players of her generation. A multiple International Bluegrass Music Association award winner, Benson has been named IBMA Banjo Player of the Year on multiple occasions and is known for her work with The Grascals, one of Nashville’s leading bluegrass groups. Her connection to the Upstate South Carolina music tradition makes her a natural addition to the trail.
Miles Hoffman, who passed away before the induction, spent decades as a violist, broadcaster, and music educator with a national reach. Hoffman was the founder and artistic director of the American Chamber Players and served for years as the classical music commentator on national public radio. His broadcasts introduced millions of listeners to classical violin and viola repertoire and shaped the way public radio covered serious music. His ties to Spartanburg’s vibrant classical music community add a historic dimension to the trail’s record.
The Spartanburg Music Trail is a project of the Spartanburg Philharmonic and civic partners designed to map and celebrate the city’s deep musical heritage. Spartanburg has produced and hosted figures across bluegrass, classical, gospel, and jazz over more than a century. The trail markers serve as a permanent public record of that legacy, installed in visible locations downtown where residents and visitors can encounter them during daily walks or organized tours.
OneSpartanburg, Inc. — the county’s economic and community development organization — publicized the induction announcement as part of its ongoing effort to highlight Spartanburg’s quality-of-life assets alongside its industrial strengths. The Philharmonic serves as both a cultural anchor and a programming partner for a range of community events, and Unveil the Trail ties directly to the downtown revitalization work that has reshaped South Church Street and Morgan Square over the past decade.
Tickets are not required for the June 11 ceremony. Community members interested in attending are encouraged to arrive early, as the Barrett Room at the downtown library has limited capacity for seated events.
