‘Oceanside’s ‘Anthem Girl’ Ali Berke debuts at Madison Square Garden

Oceanside’s Ali Berke is gearing up for a milestone moment in her career, as she prepares to take center stage at Madison Square Garden to perform the national anthem before Sunday’s game between the Knicks and the Philadelphia 76ers.

Berke, 23, has sung “The Star-Spangled Banner” at Major League Baseball games, and has set a goal of performing it at all 30 MLB ballparks across the United States and Canada — a feat that no one else has accomplished. Her performance at the Garden will mark another significant achievement.

Ali’s father, Jack, a sports agent, handles the bookings for all of her performances, and came up with the idea for her to sing at every stadiums, which inspired her nickname, “Ali the anthem girl.”

“She’s at seven (stadiums) right now, which, not for nothing, but it’s pretty amazing,” Jack said. “How many people do you know that have done even more than one?”

Ali sang at Citi Field, before a Mets-Phillies game in 2017. She has also performed at Citizens Bank Park, in Philadelphia, before a Phillies-Nationals game; at Oriole Park at Camden Yards, in Baltimore, before an Orioles-Blue Jays contest and at Fenway Park before a Dodgers and Red Sox game last August. She most recently performed the anthem at a Brewers-Cubs game at Milwaukee Brewers Stadium on Oct. 1.

She described singing at MSG as a lifelong dream come true. “Madison Square Garden is the biggest deal ever in my book,” she said. “I feel like that’s just been, like, my whole goal since I started. Madison Square Garden is what I want. It’s always just kind of been my dream. It’s something that I’ve been looking forward to since I was a child, so I’m very, very excited.”

Berke said she hoped to perform a headlining show at the Garden in the future, but is happy to get her foot in the door. Her journey has been marked by hard work. Despite juggling multiple jobs and personal commitments, she remains focused on her music career.

“I definitely put in the hours, staying up late, and it’s definitely a struggle,” she said of focusing on music while working. “Singing is what I want to Oceanside’s Ali Berke is gearing up for a milestone moment in her career, as she prepares to take center stage at Madison Square Garden to perform the national anthem before Sunday’s game between the Knicks and the Philadelphia 76ers.

Berke, 23, has sung “The Star-Spangled Banner” at Major League Baseball games, and has set a goal of performing it at all 30 MLB ballparks across the United States and Canada — a feat that no one else has accomplished. Her performance at the Garden will mark another significant achievement.

Ali’s father, Jack, a sports agent, handles the bookings for all of her performances, and came up with the idea for her to sing at every stadiums, which inspired her nickname, “Ali the anthem girl.”

“She’s at seven (stadiums) right now, which, not for nothing, but it’s pretty amazing,” Jack said. “How many people do you know that have done even more than one?”

Ali sang at Citi Field, before a Mets-Phillies game in 2017. She has also performed at Citizens Bank Park, in Philadelphia, before a Phillies-Nationals game; at Oriole Park at Camden Yards, in Baltimore, before an Orioles-Blue Jays contest and at Fenway Park before a Dodgers and Red Sox game last August. She most recently performed the anthem at a Brewers-Cubs game at Milwaukee Brewers Stadium on Oct. 1.

She described singing at MSG as a lifelong dream come true. “Madison Square Garden is the biggest deal ever in my book,” she said. “I feel like that’s just been, like, my whole goal since I started. Madison Square Garden is what I want. It’s always just kind of been my dream. It’s something that I’ve been looking forward to since I was a child, so I’m very, very excited.”

Berke said she hoped to perform a headlining show at the Garden in the future, but is happy to get her foot in the door. Her journey has been marked by hard work. Despite juggling multiple jobs and personal commitments, she remains focused on her music career.

“I definitely put in the hours, staying up late, and it’s definitely a struggle,” she said of focusing on music while working. “Singing is what I want to do for the rest of my life … I’m just hoping that it all pays off in the end, for what I actually do want to do.”

Berke has written more than 30 songs, and said she hopes to perform them at festivals and open for other artists on tour.

“In a perfect world, I’d be touring, selling out, and making sure my music was heard by more people,” she said. “My whole goal is just for my music to be heard, and … for people to understand who I am as an artist.”

Throughout her career, Berke has relied on the support of her family, including her dad, her grandmother and her boyfriend. Their encouragement, she said, has been instrumental in fueling her determination to succeed in the music industry. Her biggest motivation is to succeed for her mother, who died of cancer in July 2022.

“I wish that my mom was here so that she could experience it with me, but I know that she’ll be with me in spirit,” she said. “The hardest part of this whole thing is wishing somebody was there that’s not, but that’s what drives my motivation further and makes me want to keep going and keep achieving all of my dreams for her.”

Jack revealed that Ali’s demos, sent to various teams and industry professionals, have attracted a lot of attention, which should lead to more opportunities. He emphasized the importance of persistence and networking in securing gigs and media coverage.

Ali will be back on the road again, with a performance before the Oakland A’s-Houston Astros game in Oakland on May 26, and a Miami Marlins-Texas Rangers game in Miami on June 2. Jack hopes she will eventually perform at Dodger Stadium and Crypto Arena in Los Angeles.

For now, though, his daughter said, she wants to take it one step at a time and hope for the best. “I’m just really focused on Madison Square Garden,” she said. “I’m so excited. I feel very thankful, and I feel very blessed that I’m even getting this opportunity.”

Berke can be found on Instagram and TikTok, at Alitheanthemgirl and aliberkeofficial. for the rest of my life … I’m just hoping that it all pays off in the end, for what I actually do want to do.”

Berke has written more than 30 songs, and said she hopes to perform them at festivals and open for other artists on tour.

“In a perfect world, I’d be touring, selling out, and making sure my music was heard by more people,” she said. “My whole goal is just for my music to be heard, and … for people to understand who I am as an artist.”

Throughout her career, Berke has relied on the support of her family, including her dad, her grandmother and her boyfriend. Their encouragement, she said, has been instrumental in fueling her determination to succeed in the music industry. Her biggest motivation is to succeed for her mother, who died of cancer in July 2022.

“I wish that my mom was here so that she could experience it with me, but I know that she’ll be with me in spirit,” she said. “The hardest part of this whole thing is wishing somebody was there that’s not, but that’s what drives my motivation further and makes me want to keep going and keep achieving all of my dreams for her.”

Jack revealed that Ali’s demos, sent to various teams and industry professionals, have attracted a lot of attention, which should lead to more opportunities. He emphasized the importance of persistence and networking in securing gigs and media coverage.

Ali will be back on the road again, with a performance before the Oakland A’s-Houston Astros game in Oakland on May 26, and a Miami Marlins-Texas Rangers game in Miami on June 2. Jack hopes she will eventually perform at Dodger Stadium and Crypto Arena in Los Angeles.

For now, though, his daughter said, she wants to take it one step at a time and hope for the best. “I’m just really focused on Madison Square Garden,” she said. “I’m so excited. I feel very thankful, and I feel very blessed that I’m even getting this opportunity.”

Berke can be found on Instagram and TikTok, at Alitheanthemgirl and aliberkeofficial.