Background and career
Ethan Jordan Bortnick (born December 24, 2000) is an American pianist, singer, songwriter, record producer, musician, and actor. His music is known for blending alternative and experimental pop with classical piano. Bortnick has headlined over 1,000 concerts across the globe. Bortnick's early career saw him featured on The Tonight Show, Oprah Winfrey Network, Good Morning America, Disney Channel, Nickelodeon, and his four award-winning concert specials on PBS. On October 3, 2010, at age nine, Bortnick was listed in the Guinness World Records as the "World's Youngest Solo Musician to Headline His Own Concert Tour". Bortnick has been featured on national and international television programs. He has helped raise over $50 million for charities, performing alongside Elton John, Beyoncé, and more. In 2019, Bortnick began releasing original music independently and started posting to social media platforms during the COVID-19 pandemic. He eventually signed with Columbia Records in late 2021, following the release of his single "cut my fingers off." Since 2021, Bortnick has amassed millions of followers on social media platforms such as TikTok, YouTube, and Instagram. He has headlined two tours (2023, 2024) and performed at multiple music festivals.
Bortnick was born in Pembroke Pines, Florida. His parents, Hannah and Gene Bortnick, are Jewish immigrants from Ukraine. He attended a Montessori pre-school. At three years old, he discovered that he had a set of musical skills, including perfect pitch, on a toy keyboard that eventually led him to appearances on many television shows. He stated he has synesthesia.
At 9 years old, Bortnick became the youngest artist to have his own National PBS Concert Special The Power of Music. The Power of Music was rated the number-one concert pledge show on public television for 2014–2015. In 2017, Bortnick presented the third National PBS television concert "Generations of Music," with a guest appearance by Peter Yarrow (of Peter, Paul and Mary), Bethany Yarrow, and Rufus Cappadocia, also guided by musical director David Rosenthal, and directed by Leon Knoles. Bortnick started his own nationwide talent search called "Celebration of Music" in 2017. The show travels to various cities across the United States and allows contestants between the ages of 4 and 24 a chance to compete to win the opportunity to perform in a national television show.
On July 22 and 23, 2011, at the Las Vegas Hilton, Bortnick became the youngest headliner ever in Las Vegas, at ten years of age.
Bortnick was the host of Melody Street, a 22-minute musical-variety-show for preschoolers. Bortnick and a band of animated musical instruments (Val Violin, Febe Flute, Timmy Trumpet, Heidi Horn, and Sammy Snare) entertained kids with humor, songs, skits, interactive games, backstage dramas, and celebrity musical guests.
Opened Nelly Furtado's first US show on her tour, at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Hollywood, Florida.
