“This is honestly one of the most musically ambitious concerts I’ve ever done. I’m planning to sing songs from different eras, and of course, I’ll perform some of the songs that people remember from my time on ‘The Voice.’ ”
“If you’d told that kid he’d one day be making music in a studio with Paul Anka, Michael Bublé and David Foster, I wouldn’t have believed you. Even now, it feels like a dream. And that energy, that gratitude, that’s what I’m bringing to Pasadena,” said Sofronio Vasquez about his recent recording session with those music icons for his coming EP and his fast-approaching Pasadena Civic Auditorium concert.
That day, collaborating in the recording studio with Anka, Bublé, Foster and veteran record engineer Jorge Vivo still inspires the first Filipino and Asian winner of NBC’s “The Voice” today, as he rehearses for his first major Los Angeles show. Tickets are selling fast for “The Voice Winner: Sofronio Vasquez Live in Los Angeles,” a production of GodZella International’s Zelle Ochoco-DeVilbiss and Overture25 Productions’ Dr. Jerry Dayao, on October 11, 7:30 pm.
“That day still doesn’t feel completely real to me,” Vasquez recounted, grateful for the career breaks that a talent like him, who “grew up in a small province (Ozamis, Misamis Occidental) in the Philippines,” has been blessed with so far.
“Most people never meet one legend, let alone get to record with three of them in the same session. The fact that they were so welcoming and generous with their time and knowledge, is what I hold onto. These aren’t everyday moments. I know how lucky I am. Beyond their talent, they’re genuinely good people. That made the whole experience something I’ll never forget.”
The performer, who continues to be humble amid his successes, revealed details about the Pasadena concert that will draw his fans from all over the U.S., Canada and the world. “I’m so excited for this show at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium. What makes it special is that I’m performing again with Troy Laureta, plus two of my friends from ‘The Voice’ Season 26 top 5, Danny Joseph and Jeremy Beloate. We’ll have a five-piece band and a string quartet backing us up, which is pretty incredible.
“This is honestly one of the most musically ambitious concerts I’ve ever done. I’m planning to sing songs from different eras, and of course, I’ll perform some of the songs that people remember from my time on ‘The Voice.’ ”
Vasquez pointed out why staging his biggest show in LA means a lot to him: “Performing in Los Angeles means something special for me. This is where my ‘Voice’ journey happened, where the dream started to feel real. The Pasadena Civic Auditorium has hosted so many legendary artists over the years, and just thinking about that gives me chills. But what really gets me excited is sharing the stage with these amazing musicians. When you bring together that history, that level of talent, and genuine heart, something magical happens. That’s what I’m chasing.”
“Those international shows taught me so much,” Vasquez said about his concerts in the past few months all over the world, from Europe, the Middle East to Asia. “Music really does cross every boundary you can think of. I’ve watched people who don’t speak English connect emotionally with a song, and that’s powerful. Every country, every audience has given me something different. The energy, the way people respond to certain moments, even hearing different musical traditions firsthand, it all stay with me.
“I’m bringing all of that into the Pasadena show. The venue has this incredible legacy, and I want to honor that while making the night feel personal and new. It shouldn’t just be me performing for people. It should be us, together, creating something memorable. That’s the goal.”
On recently visiting “The Voice” set and being reunited with coaches, including Bublé, and witnessing some hopeful talents in the coming season, Vasquez enthused, “Going back felt like coming full circle. Michael said something during my season about letting a song breathe, about knowing when to hold back before you let it soar. That advice still guides me.
“Watching the new contestants reminded me of that hunger I had, that drive. I still have it, honestly. It pushed me to think about this Pasadena show differently. Since winning, I’ve grown a lot as an artist. I want this concert to show that growth – more control, more honesty, more real connection with everyone in that room.”
On Bublé, who continues to be a creative force in Vasquez’s career (he is producing the EP and sings a duet, reportedly Christmas-themed, with the Filipino performer), Vasquez gushed, “Michael has been incredibly generous from day one. He’s opened doors, shared advice, helped me see what’s possible beyond the show (‘The Voice’). What I appreciate most is that it’s real. He listens, he shares from his own experience, and he does it without any ego. That kind of mentorship is rare.”
Vasquez’s Pasadena concert is proudly presented by diamond sponsors, Skin 105 and IVRx Health Group Holdings, with additional support from major sponsors, Nilda Olano-Quiambao, The Filipino Channel (TFC) and Philippine Airlines. Tickets to the show are available at https://www.ticketmaster.com/.
