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A Mountain Top native with a considerable amount of vocal prowess and patriotism has landed recent gigs singing the national anthem at professional sporting events, and her talents are taking her to the National Football League.
Alyssa Golden, a Crestwood High School graduate currently enrolled at Berklee College of Music in Boston, has earned a good reputation for her renditions of “The Star-Spangled Banner” and “God Bless America.” She’ll sing the national anthem before the 1 p.m. kickoff of the New England Patriots vs. Buffalo Bills game Sunday at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Mass.
Golden, who previously has brandished her pipes at Boston Red Sox and Boston Celtics games, started practicing in her hometown.
“I would just sing the national anthem wherever I could,” Golden said. “It started out at school events, Crestwood football and volleyball games. Then I got an opportunity to sing at a RailRiders game.”
When Golden matriculated at Berklee in the fall of 2015, she auditioned to sing at a Boston Bruins game and was selected.
“From there, it’s really been stepping stones,” Golden said. “I was able to make connections since the Celtics and Bruins share the TD Garden, and then, from there, Fenway Park.”
While Golden was at Fenway to sing for the Red Sox game, she chatted with the venue’s event presentation coordinator who suggested she complete the gamut of Boston professional sports teams by singing at a Patriots game.
The event presentations coordinator at the TD Garden new her counterpart at Gillette Stadium, and she gave Golden the necessary contact information, but Golden, who felt the NFL might be a far reach, was surprised when she reached out.
“She had seen my performance before I even emailed her, and she asked me to come and perform at the Patriots game,” Golden said.
The game airs nationally on all CBS affiliate stations. Viewers should tune in early to see if Golden’s performance airs, although the singer is preparing a more fool-proof outlet to share her vocal showcase.
“It’s hit or miss whether it’s going to be aired, but regardless I’m going to be doing a live Facebook video on my page,” Golden said. To catch Golden’s performance on social media, visit her artist page at http://bit.ly/2d4uEsH.
Golden is studying music business with a principal in voice at Berklee, building on 10 years of classical and pop voice training. She said she plans to learn all she can at the music school and follow that education to a career.
“Wherever that leads me, I know it’ll be a good place,” Golden said.
Over the summer, Golden won a Berklee contest to become an Olivia Newton John tribute artist. She submitted a video performing “Hopelessly Devoted to You” and was chosen to go to Las Vegas to meet John and train with John’s team.
Her upcoming gig at Gillette Stadium, she said, is another step toward achieving her goals.
“I’m so excited,” Golden said. “I’ve been waiting for this, and it’s crazy to think that it’s finally here. My family is coming up to Boston for it, and it’s going to be a fun time.”
