---
title: "Spartanburg Philharmonic to Induct Kristin Scott Benson and Miles Hoffman"
url: https://www.herespartanburg.com/spartanburg-music-trail-benson-hoffman-inductees/
date: 2026-05-14T09:19:51-04:00
modified: 2026-05-14T09:19:51-04:00
author: "Kelly Deleon"
categories: ["Events"]
site: "HERESpartanburg"
attribution: "HERESpartanburg"
---

# Spartanburg Philharmonic to Induct Kristin Scott Benson and Miles Hoffman

*Source: [HERESpartanburg](https://www.herespartanburg.com/spartanburg-music-trail-benson-hoffman-inductees/) — May 14, 2026 by Kelly Deleon*

The Spartanburg Philharmonic announced on May 13, 2026 that it will formally induct two new honorees into the Spartanburg Music Trail — award-winning bluegrass banjo artist Kristin Scott Benson and the late internationally recognized violist and radio broadcaster Miles Hoffman — at a free public ceremony scheduled for June 11 at the Downtown Spartanburg Library.

The event, titled Unveil the Trail, will take place in the Barrett Room of the Downtown Spartanburg Library at 151 South Church Street beginning at 4:00 p.m. and is open to the public at no charge. It marks the upcoming installation of a permanent Music Trail sign honoring both inductees as part of the Spartanburg Music Trail, a walking and driving trail that commemorates musicians from [Spartanburg County](/) who have achieved national or international recognition across a range of genres including country, gospel, soul, and rock.

Kristin Scott Benson, a Union native who resettled in Spartanburg County with her husband in 2007, is a current member of the Grammy-nominated bluegrass group The Grascals. She has been named the International Bluegrass Music Association’s Banjo Player of the Year seven times — making her one of the most decorated performers in contemporary bluegrass. Her dual role as a performer and educator has made her a prominent figure in the national bluegrass community, and her ongoing connection to the Upstate has kept her tied to the region throughout her professional career.

Miles Hoffman was an internationally recognized violist who built a decades-long career as a soloist, chamber musician, and member of the National Symphony Orchestra. Many South Carolinians knew him through his “Minute with Miles” commentary segments on South Carolina Public Radio, which distilled classical music history and theory into accessible daily broadcasts. Hoffman was a longtime Upstate resident who advocated broadly for music education and classical music accessibility. He passed away in March 2023 at the age of 71 following a battle with leukemia, and his induction posthumously honors a career that spanned five decades of performance and broadcasting.

John Cribb, Chair of the Music Trail Committee for the Spartanburg Philharmonic, described the two inductees as representing the breadth of musical achievement that has come from the region. Cribb noted that Benson and Hoffman each made their mark in distinct musical traditions — contemporary bluegrass performance and classical music advocacy — and that both deeply deserve the recognition.

The Spartanburg Music Trail was established as a community project to honor musicians whose careers reflect Spartanburg County’s contributions to American musical culture. Previous inductees have included musicians in gospel, soul, rock and roll, and country. The trail’s physical markers are installed in downtown Spartanburg, allowing visitors and residents to trace a geographic path through the county’s musical heritage. Each induction ceremony celebrates not just the individual honorees but the county’s ongoing relationship with live music and arts programming.

The Spartanburg Philharmonic’s 2026-2027 season announcement, made earlier in the spring, highlighted the organization’s continued investment in connecting community programming to professional classical performance. The Unveil the Trail event on June 11 fits within that programming framework, offering a community celebration that does not require ticket purchase. The Chapman Cultural Center and the Spartanburg Philharmonic have both played ongoing roles in organizing Music Trail inductions since the trail’s founding.