Scott Hopkins has certainly proven he deserves to stand with the best instrumentalist in progressive bluegrass, and his debut CD gives fans of hot picking a chance to hear some of the best young players around stretch out and interact on some challenging and interesting new tunes.” - Ivan Rosenberg

Bluegrass Unlimited

ABOUT

Scott Hopkins became interested in bluegrass and banjo music by listening to recordings of Flatt & Scruggs and The Stanley Brothers that his dad played while he was growing up. At 15 years old, Scott started taking private banjo lessons and joined the school band on the tuba to fully immerse himself in the study of music.   

As a tubist, Scott received a bachelors of music education degree from the Crane School of Music at SUNY Potsdam and a masters degree of music education from the University of Connecticut. He won the Crane Concerto Competition on the tuba in 1995, but kept his banjo nearby at all times. Since his college days, he has played banjo with a number of bands in New York State and Vermont over the years.  In 2013, Scott released an acclaimed solo banjo recording, using his skills as player, composer, arranger, producer and engineer.    

He currently teaches 5-12 Band at Duanesburg Central School District just west of Albany, NY, performs with The McKrells throughout the year, the Upstate Bluegrass Band at the Saratoga Race Track during summer months, teaches Wernick Method Bluegrass Jam Camps, teaches at Music Camps North, conducts the Empire State Youth Orchestra's Concertino Brass Ensemble, and has a studio of private in-person and virtual banjo students. Scott joined the Caffe Lena School of Music as a banjo instructor in the fall of 2022 and has a number of dates with his new group The Scott Hopkins Jazz Trio in 2023!

CALENDAR

Date Event Location
Ernie Sites - Swimming Pool Party Moose Hillock Camping Resort, Fort Ann, NY Moose Hillock Camping Resort, Fort Ann, NY
Brass Quintet Gig - Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake Central School District Graduation SPAC - Saratoga Performing Arts Center, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866 SPAC - Saratoga Performing Arts Center, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866
The McKrells - In Concert The Parting Glass, Saratoga Springs, NY The Parting Glass, Saratoga Springs, NY
The Scott Hopkins Jazz Trio - In Concert Silver Bay YMCA, Silver Bay, NY Silver Bay YMCA, Silver Bay, NY
The McKrells - In Concert The Millbrook Band Shell, Millbrook, NY The Millbrook Band Shell, Millbrook, NY
The Scott Hopkins Jazz Trio - In Concert The Cock 'n Bull Restaurant, Galway, NY The Cock 'n Bull Restaurant, Galway, NY
The McKrells - In Concert Lake Placid (details coming), Lake Placid, NY Lake Placid (details coming), Lake Placid, NY
The Scott Hopkins Jazz Trio - In Concert Silver Bay YMCA, Silver Bay, NY Silver Bay YMCA, Silver Bay, NY
The McKrells - In Concert Silver Bay YMCA, Silver Bay, NY Silver Bay YMCA, Silver Bay, NY
The McKrells - In Concert Boathouse Concerts - Schroon Lake Live!! , Schroon Lake, NY Boathouse Concerts - Schroon Lake Live!! , Schroon Lake, NY
The McKrells - In Concert The Parting Glass, Saratoga Springs, NY The Parting Glass, Saratoga Springs, NY
The Scott Hopkins Jazz Trio - In Concert Silver Bay YMCA, Silver Bay, NY Silver Bay YMCA, Silver Bay, NY
Pre-Grey Fox Jam Camp - with Austin Scelzo Grey Fox Bluegrass Festival, Oak Hill, NY 12460 Grey Fox Bluegrass Festival, Oak Hill, NY 12460
Pre-Grey Fox Jam Camp - with Austin Scelzo Grey Fox Bluegrass Festival, Oak Hill, NY 12460 Grey Fox Bluegrass Festival, Oak Hill, NY 12460
Pre-Grey Fox Jam Camp - with Austin Scelzo Grey Fox Bluegrass Festival, Oak Hill, NY 12460 Grey Fox Bluegrass Festival, Oak Hill, NY 12460
The Upstate Bluegrass Band - Strolling Bluegrass Saratoga Race Track, Saratoga Springs, NY Saratoga Race Track, Saratoga Springs, NY
The Scott Hopkins Jazz Trio - In Concert Silver Bay YMCA, Silver Bay, NY Silver Bay YMCA, Silver Bay, NY
The Upstate Bluegrass Band - Strolling Bluegrass Saratoga Race Track, Saratoga Springs, NY Saratoga Race Track, Saratoga Springs, NY
The Upstate Bluegrass Band - Strolling Bluegrass Saratoga Race Track, Saratoga Springs, NY Saratoga Race Track, Saratoga Springs, NY
Ernie Sites - In Concert Stoney Creek Music in the Park, Stony Creek, NY Stoney Creek Music in the Park, Stony Creek, NY