‘Voice’ champion pursued dentistry before singing. Would he go back after his win?
After being named the Season 26 winner of “The Voice,” Sofronio Vasquez is reflecting on his past while looking toward the future.
Vasquez, who remained on Michael Bublé’s team throughout the season, spoke to TODAY.com after he was crowned the champion of the NBC singing competition on Dec. 10. He says that although it’s been a few days, he’s still processing his win.
“It’s settling nicely right now, and I am close to the point that I believe that I’m a winner,” the 32-year-old humbly says. “I’m just grateful. I mean, it’s a blessing, and, yeah, I’m just so happy.”
The singer grew up on the island of Mindanao in the Philippines, and while his family lived in poverty, music was a source of joy for their household. His father especially supported his love for music, and Vasquez credits him as his first coach, per NBC Insider.
Vasquez initially pursued dentistry as his career, but after his father died in 2018, he decided to pivot to music to not only provide for his family, but to honor his father’s life.
Now, with a “Voice” championship under his belt, he says he would tell his dad, “I think we made it.”
Vasquez shares that after he was announced as this season’s winner, his family in the Philippines visited his father’s grave, which has a Bible passage on it that makes him “emotional.”
“It says Timothy 4:7, I have finished the race. I fought the fight, and I kept the faith,” he recalls. “So I guess that’s his message (to) me, saying, ‘Congratulations. I told you, you just have to keep the faith.’”
As for what’s next, Vasquez says he’s going back to where he currently lives in Utica, New York, to thank his community for being such a “big support” during the competition. He also got invited by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. of the Philippines to visit his official residence, Malacañang Palace.
“I believe I didn’t understand it yet, how big it is for Asians to be represented (in ‘The Voice’), but they are so happy,” he shares.
Vasquez doesn’t share any long-term career goals, but when asked if he would ever consider revisiting his dentistry roots, he’s open to the possibility.
“Michael Bublé told me, ‘Buddy, you just have to set that aside for now, because (you) have a lot of work to do.’ But in my heart, I would never, ever forget, because I also love dentistry,” Vasquez explains.
“So, I can also have the best of both worlds, singing while being a dentist.”
