"An imaginative actress with a voice that seems to laugh at difficulties "               -The New York Times

KAREN BEARDSLEY'S extraordinary career has taken her around the globe performing over 60 leading roles in the foremost opera houses in the United States, Canada and in Europe including New York City Opera, National Theatre in London, the Glyndebourne Festival, Chatelet in Paris, New York Philharmonic, LA Philharmonic, Amsterdam, Taiwan, Singapore, Santiago Chile, Chicago, Los Angeles, Santa Fe and more and appearing in concert with the major symphony orchestras across the United States, Europe, Singapore and Canada. Beardsley carved out an international presence over two decades, performing roughly 280 days a year across the U.S., Canada, and Europe. Her voice-described by The New York Times as one that "seems to laugh at difficulties"—and her vivid acting earned her acclaim in major opera houses. She debuted globally as Max  in Oliver Knussen's fantasy opera “Where the Wild Things Are”, a role she created at its 1984 world premiere at London's National Theatre and and Glyndebourne Festival and sang over 400 times, including with the New York Philharmonic under Zubin Mehta. Her performance, filmed for BBC TV and released by Teldec, cemented her early reputation. She shone in roles like Lucia (Lucia di Lammermoor), Marie (Daughter of the Regiment), Cunegonde (Candide), Pamina (The Magic Flute), Despina ( Cosi fan tutte, Adele (Die Fledermaus) and Olympia (Tales of Hoffmann), blending technical prowess with sassy theatrical flair.  In 1997 she gave her  New York City Debut Recital at Weill Recital Hall in Carnegie Hall in an "Evening of American Art Songs". New York Magazine called her "vocally radiant," and Opera International praised her as "alive, energetic, mischievous and vocally flawless."

Along with her operatic contracts she was a Columbia Community Concert Artist, an Affiliate Artist and Texas Star Artist bringing opera, inspiring young people and creating new audiences to small cities across the U.S. In the mid-1990s, Beardsley pivoted to teaching, becoming a cornerstone of vocal education. She taught on the faculty of Manhattan School of Music's Precollege Division for over 20 years, her alma mater where she earned her Master's and won the Scofield Opera Scholarship. Her students dominated the NATS Voice Competition in NYC for five years running and secured spots at top schools like Manhattan School of Music, Juilliard, Princeton, Harvard and Cornell.

She also taught at the Spoleto Vocal Arts Symposium in Italy, Thurnauer School of Music, and Zhangjiajie International Vocal Festival in China and gave masterclasses at over 50 universities. Her private studios in Bergen County, NJ, and NYC-plus Zoom lessons— focused  on technique, confidence, and emotional connection, drawing from her own stage-honed insights.

Married to Maitland Peters, former MSM Voice Department Chairman  and now Professor Emeritus, she and Maitland are very proud of their amazing children; son Preston, who married the love of his life Amanda Sroka and daughter Olympia all of whom now live in sunny California.  Karen Beardsley's personal and professional life intertwines with opera's elite. Her career bridged the spotlight onstage and the studio, making her a mentor who's lived the roles she shaped others to sing. 
 
Now, again traveling the world and revisiting many of the opera houses in which she performed, she is incredibly grateful to Maitland for his unending love and support and to all of the incredible singers, conductors, teachers and people who were so influential in her life along the way.