Musician Karen LeFrak is reflecting on her later-in-life rise to fame, particularly the moment she caught the attention of renowned composer David Foster. In an interview, the 79-year-old composer shared her emotions surrounding the creation of her latest album titled “American Promise,” which celebrates the 250th anniversary of the United States.
LeFrak’s journey is quite extraordinary. She found recognition in her 70s when Foster visited her home for a photo shoot, where she showcased some of her original music. He was intrigued and even asked, “Do you have any more?” She remembers pulling out more pieces, which led him to exclaim, “Oh my God, you can write melodies. Nobody writes melodies anymore.” He felt they needed to be heard.
Feeling a bit anxious about revealing her work, she was particularly sensitive to his reaction. After he played a challenging piece, she anxiously awaited his feedback. Joyfully, she sensed he appreciated it. He later requested her music be distributed, which led to a professional team being formed, eventually resulting in her debut album in 2021. Now, in 2026, LeFrak’s music has amassed around 60 million streams.
Interestingly, Foster isn’t the only one who’s shown interest in her compositions. LeFrak mentioned that she had previously written for ballet and chamber music groups, sharing those pieces with friends when they asked for them. Despite her evident talent, she never envisioned pursuing music as a career.
“It’s funny, nobody ever really spoke to me about it. I didn’t think about a professional music career. As a kid, I just enjoyed doing musicals,” she said. Her latest album, “American Promise,” features new compositions, including “American Promise,” “Lady Liberty Suite,” and “Prairie Dawn.”
Initially, she was surprised when approached to compose a specific piece and even had to confirm the seriousness of the offer. With encouragement, she discovered an inspiring motif that developed into her piece “Freedom Fanfare.” She felt compelled to add a beautiful slow section, which eventually culminated in a narration of key phrases from the Declaration of Independence.
For LeFrak, gratitude is at the heart of her work. She hopes that those who hear “American Promise” will feel gratitude and reflect on what the country has given them. She emphasizes music as a unifier, transcending politics and personal preferences. During a performance at David Geffen Hall by the New York Philharmonic on July 3, she hopes audiences appreciated the essence of unity that music brings.
