Olympia’s Entrance


Your timing is amazing. My husband Maitland and I are expecting our second baby, a girl, to be named “Olympia.” Our son Preston is now seven and a half, and at this writing, I am eight and three-quarters months’ pregnant. It’s very different this time around. With my first pregnancy I had to cancel four engagements, something I had never done before! This time I was able to plan and prepare, so there are no conflicts or cancellations. I feel great, and have been singing all through my pregnancy. I’m planning to “camp in” with the new baby for a while.

When the parenting article came out two years ago I was doing my Carnegie Hall recital debut. I love American art song, and as a result of that concert I had two offers for recording projects. I’ll begin recording after the baby is born, a perfect “at home” project for a new mom.

Preston rarely travels with me now when I perform. He has his friends and activities and, of course, piano lessons through the Prep Division of Manhattan School of Music! [Maitland Peters is a full-time voice teacher at MSM and Karen teaches an “auditions package” course there.] It’s important to us that our children have their own lives, separate from our music. Our lives are steadier and financially stable than two years ago, and we can’t wait to embrace this new addition to our family.

Karen Beardsley

During her pregnancy, soprano Karen Beardsley performed with the Singapore Symphony, the West Virginia Symphony and appeared in recital. Her solo debut album of American art song will be released later this year.