Utica, N.Y., singer Sofronio Vasquez won season 26 of “The Voice.” (Photo by: Griffin Nagel/NBC)Griffin Nagel/NBC
“The Voice” winner Sofronio Vasquez was happy to represent two very different places on national television: The Philippines and Central New York.
Vasquez, 31, won season 26 of “The Voice” on Tuesday, becoming the first Asian and Filipino contestant to win the U.S. singing competition. He grew up in Mindanao, Philippines, but he’s lived in Utica since 2023 and now proudly calls the City of Immigrants “home.”
“It was meant to be,” he said of making Utica his home.
Vasquez, who grew up poor in the Philippines, told the NBC TV show that he saw music as a chance to get his family out of poverty. He previously competed in a Filipino singing competition while working in dentistry, but he quickly had to focus on being the family breadwinner when his father died of kidney failure in 2018. He now works as a dental assistant in Utica.
His life has changed very much over the past few months, starting when he received a four-chair turn from “The Voice” celebrity judges Snoop Dogg, Michael Bublé, Gwen Stefani and Reba McEntire during his blind audition on the season 26 premiere in September. He chose Team Bublé, letting the Canadian crooner guide him through memorable performances of songs like “Unstoppable” (Sia), “If I Can Dream” (Elvis Presley), “Crying” (Roy Orbison), “The Power of Love” (Celine Dion), and “Every Breath You Take” with Sting.
Vasquez said “Unstoppable” was the hardest of the songs he performed, but he trusted Bublé’s song choice.
“We know Sia is very talented, and he just told me to just enjoy it. It’s a fast, up-tempo song and usually it’s hard to sing when you’re moving because you have emotions and your breath support should be stable,” Vasquez explained.
That show-stopping performance helped convince America to vote for him in the finale. On Tuesday, he was crowned the winner, taking home a $100,000 grand prize and a record deal with Universal Music Group.
Yet he remains humble. “I don’t feel any different,” Vasquez said after winning.
He said he wanted to use the money to buy Bublé’s record, but the Canadian crooner gifted him a copy instead. So instead he’s saving up for his music career to get his songs out into the world.
“I have a clear vision of what my music and my artistry would be,” Vasquez said. “I want to be someone who’s singing classics but bringing the pop (sound)… with the help of my mentor, my coach Michael Bublé. I believe I’m on the right track.”
Utica, N.Y., singer Sofronio Vasquez poses for a photo with his “The Voice” coach Michael Bublé. (Photo by: Griffin Nagel/NBC)Griffin Nagel/NBC
Another Mohawk Valley resident, Tom Nitti, was on Team Reba during season 24 of “The Voice” last year. The New Hartford singer, who became a New York State Trooper after being awarded the Purple Heart for his military service in Afghanistan, was an early favorite but left the show to focus on his family and continues to perform today, including at the New York State Fair this past summer.
Vasquez says he knows Nitti but didn’t talk to anyone for advice about auditioning for the show, mostly because he’s shy. Still, he felt prepared because he had been watching the show since the first season. He can remember each winner, the songs they auditioned with, and what worked for contestants when they perform in front of audiences.
He also won’t forget his fellow finalists, including Team Bublé teammate, Shye, who finished in second place for final voting. Buffalo teen Sydney Sterlace (Team Gwen) came in third place, followed by Danny Joseph (Team Reba) in fourth and Jeremy Beloate (Team Snoop) in fifth.
Vasquez said he plans to visit family in the Philippines soon, but is also eager to get back home to Utica.
“To my lovely people in Upstate New York, of course Utica, and my favorite airport (in) Syracuse: Thank you for the love, support and care that you have always been giving to people like me,” Vasquez said.
“All immigrants, refugees, and of course dreamers out there: We have a home in New York and in the upstate (region). So thank you so much for giving that to us and I can’t wait to just go home and celebrate it with you.”
Utica, N.Y., singer Sofronio Vasquez competes on “The Voice.” (Photo by: Griffin Nagel/NBC)Griffin Nagel/NBC
“The Voice” returns for season 27 on Feb. 23, 2025, at 8 p.m. on NBC. Bublé will be joined by Adam Levine, John Legend and first-time coach Kelsea Ballerini.
