Congratulations to Francisco “Frank” Garcia who is on the 25th season of The Voice on NBC. Frank is from Roma, Texas, a Columbia University student and a former winner of the Mariachi Extravaganza National Group and Vocal Competitions. 

I recently had an opportunity to chat with Frank and catch up on this very exciting time in his life and I’m so impressed with his determination and persistence in getting on The Voice. Here’s a snippet of our conversation. 

Cynthia: Frank it’s so amazing to see you on The Voice. Congratulations!!!!! When and how did this all come about? 

Frank: Well, I’ve been trying to get on the show for years. I started when I was 13 and I’m now 19. I completed the online application and submitted a video 6 times and never got in. I was about to give up my interest in music and auditioning for the show but two years ago, as a Freshman in college, my literature professor Joanna Stalnaker, encouragement me to try again. So I applied online on November 10, 2022, and submitted an Adele song, and they sent me an email saying I got accepted to the next round. They requested that I submit 3 more songs and I submitted “El Triste” by Jose Jose as one of them. I was then notified in March 2023 that I was selected. Filming of interviews with both my parents and I started in the summer of 2023 at Universal Studios in Los Angeles. 

Cynthia: And you’ve made it all the way to the Blind Auditions where you appeared singing “Love in the Dark” by Adele. 

Frank: Yes, and thank God, Dan & Shay turned their chairs and I’m super excited to be on their team. All of the judges had great things say and I’m looking forward to the next step which is the Battle Rounds. After that are the Knockouts, Playoffs and then the Live Performances. 

Cynthia: This is huge. I know you’ve appeared on several TV reality shows that we’ve written about in the past but this is the biggest of them all.

Frank: It’s been very exciting. I didn’t expect so many people to connect with my story and my voice. People now recognize me walking done the streets of New York and will be like “hey, aren’t you the guy on The Voice.” My parents say that people back home are going crazy. No one from Roma, Texas has ever been on The Voice or another TV reality show of this magnitude. My track coach sent me a message and it means a great deal to me every time I hear from someone back home. 

Cynthia: And now you’re living in the Big Apple. How is that going?

Frank: Yes. I’ve always wanted to live in a big city, so, I’m here. 

Cynthia: How long have you been living in New York City?

Frank: I moved up here two years ago to attend Columbia University. Columbia is a great University. The campus is beautiful – you enter these big gates and it’s like a big village but I had to take a leave of absence last semester because there was so much going on in preparing for The Voice.

Cynthia: How have you managed financially in the most expensive city in the U.S?

Frank: I was able to get scholarships. I am a QuestBridge Scholarship recipient. I also received the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation Scholarship and the Bill Gates Scholarship. Being involved in mariachi music helped me. Mariachi music was like me, distinctive and not regularly seen. This really helped me find comfort in my identity, thus helping me throughout my college and scholarship applications. Additionally, competing and being a part of the mariachi program back in my high school really helped me develop leadership skills that I would have never learned elsewhere.

Cynthia: What are you studying? 

Frank: I’m majoring in Biology with a concentration on women and gender studies. My goal is to eventually become a plastic surgeon specializing in gender reaffirming care. 

Cynthia: What has been your biggest challenge so far? 

Frank: The biggest challenge has been to mentally adjust. It requires a lot of time management with classes in order to get my homework done. When I was in high school, I never really had to study and I always did well on my exams. It was a very drastic change when I started college….it’s totally different. I have to study really hard but I’ve been able to cope. 

Cynthia: Have you met anyone from Texas?

Frank: Yes. John Caro, the Valedictorian from Rio Grande City High School, is also up here attending Columbia.

Cynthia: Jumping back to The Voice, what are you hoping the outcome will be?

Frank: I just want to go out there and do my best. Two years ago I was on the verge of quitting music but the show has given me a new boost and hopefully, when I go back home, I want to record music. Most importantly, being on The Voice has taught me about the importance of representing and advocating for my community. As a queer Latino, this experience has shown me that it is crucial to advocate for ones identity in order to hopefully help others in the world who might relate to certain barriers in life. Also, The Voice has taught me to always be proud of my roots and where I come from, because that is what my artistry is representing whenever I perform.  

Cynthia: Your courage, confidence and compassion for those around you is quite admirable for being so young. How can we support you? 

Frank: I would love for people to tune in and get ready. The Voice airs on NBC on Monday from 8-10 PM and on Tuesday from 9-10 PM. Any help in spreading the word is very much appreciated. 

Cynthia: You’re amazing and we are so proud of you especially because you are representing the Latino community and our Mexican American community. 

Frank: I’m the only Latino in the whole show. There were two other girls who are my friends from Venezuela and Puerto Rican but they are no longer on the show. 

Cynthia: Well, know that we are all root’n for you all the way. The exposure you are getting from being on The Voice is ginormous and we hope that this grand attention will lead to other fabulous opportunities for you down the road. 

Frank: Thank you so much. I am grateful to my parents for their support and for always accepting me for who I am. Without their support I would never have been able to have the courage to be myself. Additionally, I am truly grateful for the amount of support I have obtained throughout this experience. I really appreciate the support from everyone!

Frank is a longtime participant of the Mariachi Extravaganza and well known mariachi musician and vocalist in Texas. He studied with Yamil Yuñes and competed in the Mariachi Extravaganza National Vocal Competition 4 years and won 2nd place in the middle school category in 2016 and tied for 3rd place in 2017. He competed for 6 years under the direction of Eloy Garza in the Mariachi Extravaganza National group competition with Roma Middle School and with the award-winning Mariachi Nuevo Santander from Roma High School. He was selected to perform with the Ft. Worth Opera in “El Pasado Nunca Se Termina” in 2019 and graduated from Roma High School in 2022.

Frank was also a participant in the Mariachi Extravaganza Summer Camp as seen in the photo below with Miss. Christina Maxwell and gang. Loving these precious memories!!!

Here are links to more stories about Frank.

South Texas ‘Voice” contestant first made his mark in mariachi music, Deborah Martin, San Antonio Express-News, March 27, 2024

South Texas singer advances in battle rounds on ‘The Voice’, Jim Kiest, San Antonio Express-News, March 19, 2024

Frank Garcia shares his story during Covid, Cynthia Munoz, MariachiMusic.com

Ft. Worth Opera selects Francisco Garcia, Jr. for role in mariachi opera, Cynthia Munoz, MariachiMusic.com

Roma High School’s Mariachi Nuevo Santander represents Mariachi Vargas Extravaganza at the Biden/Harris Latino Inauguration online, Cynthia Munoz, MariachiMusic.com

Award winning Mariachi Nuevo Santander Releases album “Sangre Mariachera”, Cynthia Munoz, MariachiMusic.com

Frank Garcia on The Voice – Battle Round

Frank Garcia on The Voice – Blind Auditions

Frank Garcia competing in the Mariachi Extravaganza with Mariachi Nuevo Santander from Roma High School

Frank Garcia performing with Mariachi Nuevo Santander for the Biden Inaugural Celebration