The Van Wert County Courthouse

Friday, Mar. 29, 2024

Music prodigy comes to NPAC on Sunday

Niswonger PAC information

From singing and playing the piano to songwriting and starring in television specials and feature films, 14-year-old Ethan Bortnick does it all — with incredible talent, a captivating personality and a passion for bringing people joy. He’ll share those amazing gifts with new audiences when he brings his 50-plus-city U.S. tour to Van Wert at 3 p.m. this Sunday, November 1, at the Niswonger Performing Arts Center. Presented by Vancrest Health Care Centers, this Community Concert Series event is nearly sold out.

Packed with energy, excitement and entertainment, the family-friendly concert features Bortnick and his band, along with special guests: the Crestview and Lincolnview choirs.

Ethan Bortnick
Ethan Bortnick

“This is a once in a lifetime opportunity that students will be experiencing and it will be a memorable performance,” adds Danille Hancock, Crestview music director. Crowd favorites range from The Beatles and Elton John to Motown and Michael Jackson, along with Chopin classical renditions, recent top hits, Broadway show tunes and original songs.

Recognized by Guinness World Records as “The World’s Youngest Solo Musician to Headline his Own Concert Tour,” Ethan embarked upon his musical career at an early age. He asked for his first piano lesson at age 3, and by age 5, was creating his own original compositions. Since then, Bortnick has performed at venues around the globe and appeared on numerous popular television shows and networks including “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno”, “Good Morning America”, Nickelodeon, The Disney Channel and “Oprah”, where he was named one of “Oprah’s All-Time Smartest, Most Talented Kids.”

In 2010, Bortnick was recognized as the youngest musician to create and host his own award-winning PBS concert special that aired more than 600 times on Public Television stations across the country. Three years later, he starred in Anything is Possible, a full-length feature film for which he also co-wrote all the songs and scored all the background music. Impressed by Bortnick’s incredible talent, Celine Dion has stated that she is amazed by his songwriting. Quincy Jones added, “Ethan’s imagination and ability to create music from stories is unbelievable.”

Last year, Bortnick created and hosted “The Power of Music” — a multiple award winning, critically acclaimed, nationally televised concert special that aired over 1,500 times on Public Television and continues to be the number one Concert Pledge Show since 2014.

Billy Joel’s musical director, Dave Rosenthal, renowned globally for his work with Joel for over 20 years, is also Bortnick’s musical director and continues to guide him in his musical journey.

Having graced the cover of Esquire magazine as one of the most influential people of the last 80 years, Bortnick is excited about his upcoming nationwide tour and the opportunity to touch more people’s lives. “Whether I perform at a small charity event or in a huge arena, I just love every moment of it,” he said. “When I see the audience enjoying the music, having fun, smiling and dancing, there’s just nothing better than that!”

But performing is only part of what makes Bortnick such a special young man. At age 5, after his younger brother had gone through three heart surgeries, Bortnick was inspired to use his musical talents to benefit charitable endeavors. To date, he has raised over $40 million for non-profit organizations around the world, sharing the stage with many legendary artists, such as Elton John, Andrea Bocelli, Beyoncé and Josh Groban. He was also the youngest artist to participate in the star-studded line-up that recorded “We Are The World 25 for Haiti” in 2010.

As a globally acclaimed headline performer, television and film star, music composer and humanitarian, Bortnick boasts a rare — and powerful — combination of talent, maturity and compassion for someone his age. There has never been anyone like him in modern music history.

To find out more about him, watch his videos and get more details about his upcoming tour schedule, visit www.EthanBortnick.com.

Tickets for the concert range from $15-$35 and are available at NPACVW.ORG or 419.238.6722. The Community Concert Series Dinner Package is also available at Willow Bend Country Club and includes five themed dinners for all five concerts in the series for only $60. Dinner can be purchased online or through the Box Office.

Community Concert series supporting sponsors are State Farm Agent Tisha Fast, Slusher’s Jewelry, Taylor Auto Sales Inc.; Van Wert County Hospital and Central Insurance Companies.

The Niswonger is located at 10700 Ohio 118 on the south edge of Van Wert.

POSTED: 10/27/15 at 7:41 am. FILED UNDER: Arts & Entertainment, News