​Gene Bortnick

Entertainer Ethan Bortnick, 16, gives back to South Florida community

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Sixteen-year-old Jewish pianist/singer Ethan Bortnick of Hollywood stars in two concerts on Sept. 16 at 7:30 p.m. and Sept. 17 at 3:30 p.m. at the Broward Center in Fort Lauderdale.

Bortnick, who has achieved fame for the past decade as a child pianist playing classical, jazz and popular music on television with three nationally televised concerts on the Public Broadcasting System (PBS), will be showcasing his original music at the Broward Center concerts.

As a child, Bortnick had always excited audiences with his skills on piano, but now has added singing to his performances, as indicated on his recent PBS special "Generations of Music," which was televised in August.

"I enjoyed singing original songs and many popular songs on my last PBS Special and will showcase these songs at the Broward Center concerts," said Bortnick.

"Along with some original and well-known songs, I will also compose songs from the stage by request from selected audience members, based on ring tones from their cell phones."

"The audiences have a lot of fun hearing the spontaneous songs and both concerts will be unique and different," said Bortnick.

Among his many achievements, Bortnick has been certified by the Guinness World Records in 2010 for being the youngest performer to headline a national tour at age nine.

Over the past decade, Bortnick has appeared on stage with famed singers, such as Beyonce, Tony Bennett, Celine Dion and Barbra Streisand, among others.

Friends and fans of Bortnick admire him for remaining humble and continuing his studies in high school at Hochberg Preparatory Jewish School in North Miami Beach.

"Ethan is a nice, down to earth kid who has not changed since he became famous," said David Jaffe, a senior at the Miami-based Jewish Community Services lunch program.

Jaffe saw Bortnick perform in 2014 with other students from Hochberg Preparatory Jewish School at JCS.

For many years, Bortnick has showcased his talents for students in South Florida at school events to promote the need for more arts programs at schools.

"Ethan is incredible to be so gifted and to be willing to give back to other people, particularly other children," said public relations advocate Leslie Loewenthal, who has created and promoted shows featuring talented South Florida teens for not for profit groups.

At age three, young Ethan asked his parents for piano lessons to develop his skills in music.

"Ethan had the ability at age three to hear a song once and play it back note for note, the musical equivalent of a photographic memory," said his father, Gene Bortnick.

By age five, Bortnick started to write original music and started performing in South Florida, with one of his first appearances being at the Hanukkah Festival at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach for Chabad of South Broward.

Because Bortnick's 11-year-old brother Nathan was born with a heart defect, Bortnick has performed at many South Florida hospitals, raising funds for heart disease research.

Bortnick has also continued performing for South Florida Chabad, performing multiple times at Hanukkah celebrations and concerts.

"It is important for me to give back to other teens to spread the joy of performing as well as raising money for both Chabad and PBS television for the good work that they do," said Bortnick.

Although Bortnick has performed in Australia, Canada and other countries, he has not yet visited Israel and wants to go there soon.

"It would be so exciting to go to Israel. It is the only country I have not visited yet that I would like to see," said Bortnick.

For tickets at the Broward Center, 201 SW Fifth Ave. in Fort Lauderdale, call 954-462-0222 or go to www.browardcenter.org.

To learn more about Ethan Bortnick, go to www.ethanbortnick.com.