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 tuba in 1995, and since his college days, has played banjo in a variety of bands and collaborations.

In 2013, Scott released his first, self-titled, solo banjo recording project featuring guest artists Mike Compton, Stephen Mougin, Casey Driessen, Andy Hall, Jesse Cobb, Randy Kohrs, and Becky Buller among others, and released his second project in 2023 - an album of duets with music friends and heroes titled “Just You” - featuring the likes of Tony Trischka, Joe Newberry, Smokey Greene, Ellen Carlson, and Bob Amos among others. Both projects garnered critical acclaim.

Scott currently teaches 5-12 Band at Duanesburg Central School District just west of Albany, NY and performs on banjo with his own trio featuring originals, roots, bluegrass, jazz and latin styles of music. He also teaches jamming and banjo privately, at Wernick Method Bluegrass Jam Camps, Banjo Camp North, The Ashokan Center, and at Fiddleheads Jam Camp throughout each year. Scott started the Ashokan Banjo Weekend in 2023 and it continues to grow each year!