Karen Fremar, Ph.D., is a published composer of works for accordion, and has also composed chamber works utilizing the accordion and works for accordion orchestra. Her other compositions include works for solo voice, SATB choir, orchestra, string quartet, brass ensemble, woodwind quintet, mixed chamber works, solo piano, and electronic music works. Fremar is the composer of the 1981 Coupe Mondiale Test Piece, Reflections.

Fremar studied composition with Gerald Kemner at the Conservatory of Music, University of Missouri-Kansas City. While a graduate composition student, she taught in the Conservatory's Electronic Music Lab and in the music theory program. She studied composition at the University of Kansas with John Pozdro, and completed interim session study with Milton Babbitt. Fremar was an Assistant Instructor of Music Theory at KU. Her degrees include the Bachelor of Music-Accordion Performance (with distinction) and the Master of Music-Composition from the University of Missouri-Kansas City; the Master of Music-Philosophy and the Doctor of Philosophy in Music Theory from the University of Kansas. Her doctoral dissertation was a study of the life and works of the 18th-century Austrian composer, Marianna Martines. Her edition of Martines's Sinfonia has been performed world-wide by symphony orchestras.

Fremar won the 1974 CIA International Competition for Virtuoso Entertainment Music in Stockholm, Sweden. In the same year, she placed 3rd in the Coupe Mondiale and won the Swedish award for the best performance by a female candidate. In Chicago, she won the 1974 United States Accordion Solo Championship (AAA), as well as the United States Accordion Duo Championship (AAA) with Jeff Lisenby, also a United States Solo Champion (ATG). Fremar began playing the accordion at age two, as a student of her mother, Margie Fremar, and first performed publicly at the age of 2 1/2. Formal piano and percussion studies followed thereafter, culminating in studies with Joanne Baker (piano) and Charmaine Asher-Wiley (percussion). At age 14, as leader of the Teen Tones accordion ensemble, she won auditions and appeared on the nationally televised Ted Mack Original Amateur Hour in New York. At age 16, she won auditions at the Shenandoah Conservatory of Music in Winchester, Virginia, to perform as a percussionist and featured accordionist with the All-Students Groups U.S.A., presenting concerts in 12 countries throughout Europe.

Fremar studied accordion at the University of Missouri-Kansas City with Joan Cochran Sommers. She performed in concert with the University Orchestra as a three-time winner of the University's Concerto-Aria competition, toured the Pacific with the Accordionaires for the U.S.O., and was concertmaster of the UMKC Accordion Orchestra. Professionally, Fremar played and arranged music with Lisenby for their duo, Karen and Jeff; and was performer/arranger for many years with her jazz combo, The Kansas City Sound. Fremar has performed with the Kansas City Philharmonic, the Kansas City Symphony, and the Tulsa City Orchestra for Luciano Pavarotti's World Farewell Tour. She has served on International Accordion Juries for the CIA, and the Accordionists & Teachers Guild, International, and has adjudicated for the American Accordionists' Association, as well as numerous other competitions. Fremar has also served as an adjudicator for piano competitions, including serving as Assistant to the International Jury for the XII Gina Bachauer International Piano Competition in Salt Lake City, Utah.