About
Dr. Naki Sung Kripfgans is a distinguished musician whose versatile career spans roles as a collaborative pianist, concert organist, recording artist, improviser, music educator, and choral conductor. Naki has performed internationally and regionally in North America, Europe, and Asia. Recent highlights include chamber music concerts that were chosen and granted funding by the Arts Initiative Program at the University of Michigan for 2024 and 2025, a performance of Saint-Saëns' Organ Symphony at Hill Auditorium in May 2024, and serving as a clinician and conference organist for The Fellowship of Worship Artists Conference in North Carolina in June 2024. Additionally, she serves as the resident faculty collaborative pianist for the renowned Center Stage Strings program during summer and was invited to be an official pianist for the 2025 William C. Byrd International Competition in March 2025.
Naki received her Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Organ (Sacred Music) and a master’s degree in Piano Performance from the University of Michigan, along with a bachelor’s degree in Music from the University of Northern Iowa. During and after her studies, Naki received numerous scholarships and awards in piano and organ performance. She won the 2015 UM Life Science Orchestra Concerto Competition, performing Poulenc’s Organ Concerto at Hill Auditorium in 2016. As a virtuoso improviser, she also won the Robert Glasgow Award for Organ Improvisation at the University of Michigan in 2012 and served as one of the judges for the competition in 2019. She was featured in an article series, “Women in Improvisation,” in the December 2020 issue of the American Guild of Organists magazine.
At the University of Michigan, she teaches chamber music classes in the Music Program at the Residential College and serves as a staff collaborative pianist for the String Department at the School of Music, Theatre, and Dance. Naki devotes her time as the Director of Music and Organist at Bethlehem United Church of Christ in Ann Arbor, where she brings considerable expertise to the vibrant fabric of church musicianship.
