Born on December 24, 2000, Ethan Bortnick is an American pianist, singer, composer, songwriter, actor and musician.
On October 3, 2010 at age 9, he was listed as holding the Guinness World Records for “The World’s Youngest Solo Musician to Headline His Own Concert Tour.”
In July 2011 he made history again for being the youngest headliner at the Las Vegas Hilton.
Bortnick has been featured on national and international television programs. He has raised over $50,000,000 for charities. He received the 2010 Outstanding Artist Award, and in 2011 he received the Telly award in TV Programs/Segments.]
Bortnick was born in Pembroke Pines, Florida. His parents, Hannah and Gene Bortnick, are Jewish immigrants from Ukraine. Ethan has one younger brother, Nathan, was who born with a heart defect, having his first, of three, heart surgeries when he was 3 weeks old and Ethan 5.
At 9 years old, Bortnick became the youngest artist to have his own National PBS Concert Special “The Power of music”. The special runs 60 minutes and 90 minutes. The Power of Music has been rated the number one concert pledge show on Public Television for 2014/2015.
In 2017, Bortnick presented the 3rd National PBS television concert “Generations of Music”. With a Special guest appearance by Peter Yarrow (of Peter, Paul and Mary), Bethany Yarrow] and Rufus Cappadocia and guided by Musical Director David Rosenthal and directed by the Emmy-nominated Leon Knoles.
On July 22 and 23, 2011, Bortnick made history at the Las Vagas Hilton as the youngest headliner ever in Las Vegas, at ten years of age.
In August 2011, Bortnick recorded his first album in Muscle Shoals, Alabama. The album was produced by Gary Baker, and his collaborators Matthew Craig and Rob Collier. The album is the soundtrack to the film Anything is Possible, where Bortnick plays the leading role.
Bortnick is the host of Melody Street, a 22-minute musical-variety-show for preschoolers. Bortnick and his five best friends, a band of animated musical instruments; Val Violin, Febe Flute, Timmy Trumpet, Heidi Horn and Sammy Snare, entertain kids with humor, songs, skits, interactive games, backstage dramas, celebrity musical guests.
Opened Nelly Furtad’s first US show on her tour, at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Hollywood, Florida.
In 2008, he performed a full concert with the Naples, Florida Philharmonic Orchestra, under the musical direction of Andrew Lane. He also performed to raise money for the Miami Children’s Hospital Foundation’s Diamond Ball and Concert, featuring Beyoncé Knowles, Smokey Robinson, and Gloria Gaynor at the American Airlines Arena in Miami, FL. A record $12 million was raised for the Foundation.
He co-hosted the Chabad Telethon, which raised a record $8 million in one night.
In 2009, he performed with the Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra and also performed at a fundraiser benefiting the Miami Children’s Hospital Foundation with chef Emeril Lagasse. Bortnick performed at a Parkinson’s disease fundraising event hosted by Muhammad Ali and also performed at a private event for George Davidsohn at the Fontainebleau Hotel backed by members of Billy Joel’s band. Bortnick performed with Mark Rivera, Tommy Byrnes, Chuck Burgi, Andy Cichon, and David Rosenthal. He played for the 18th annual Society of Singers Ella Awards, honoring Herb Alpert and Lani Hall and opened for Sir Elton John, Gladys Knight and Tony Bennett. This event was to raise money for the Starkey Hearing Foundation and was hosted by Billy Crystal.
He performed as the sole entertainer, for the Annual Benefit Event of American Friends of Lubavitch and headline performer at the Nokia Theater at LA Live.
Also in 2010, he opened for Jordin Sparks, Jason Derulo, Sam Moore, David Archuleta for a Super Bowl Party at Miami’s Eden Roc Hotel, raising money for various children’s charities and also at a solo show for students at the Grammy Museum among other performances that year.
In 2011, he played at the Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas to raise money for the Remax and Children’s Miracle Network Auction and also at a concert for the Larry King Foundation.
On February 1, 2010, Bortnick recorded with some 70 artists, the song “We Are the World 25 for Haiti”. This was the 25th anniversary of the original recording. The song premièred Friday, February 12, during the opening ceremony of the Vancouver Winter Olympics.
On February 12, 2010, Ethan was featured in Rolling Stone in an article titled “Preview the New “We Are the World,” Plus Meet Nine-Year-Old Singer Ethan Bortnick.” On August 1, 2010 Ethan was featured in the LIFE section of the USA Today. On May 1, 2011 Ethan was featured in the Keyboard Magazine In a section entitled “MAJORminor.”
On July 22, 2011, Ethan was featured in the Las Vegas Review Journal, in the NEON Entertainment section and on October 2013, was on the Esquire Magazine’s 80th anniversary cover, titled the “Life of Man.”
On November 18, 2013, Ethan was interviewed for The Flash List, an entertainment Newsletter in the article “Interview with Piano Prodigy Ethan Bortnick” while on November 19, 2013 Ethan was featured in GAP brand global celebrity ad campaign.
On August 25, 2017 Ethan was featured in Broward Family Life, in the entertainment section.
He has many television and guesting appearances. (Wikipedia)
