Arts & Entertainment

Mini Marvel

Child piano prodigy performs for local Chabad's 50th anniversary concert.

Suzanne Chessler

Special to the Jewish News

E

than Bortnick, like other
7-year-olds, loves to run
around outside and play
games with his friends.
Ethan, unlike others his age,
loves to play the piano and is get-
ting great acclaim in concerts, on
television and through recordings.
The young pianist, based in
Florida, already has chalked up
a long list of appearances with
celebrities — from opening for
Patti LaBelle to being interviewed
by Oprah Winfrey.
A big national launch pad for
Ethan's career, which has come
to include composing, was last
September's California Chabad "To
Life" Telethon, a production lead-
ing to in-person Chabad bookings Ethan Bortnick: "Playing the piano makes me feel good in my heart."
around the country.
Soon, the young entertainer will
Ethan, appearing perfectly at ease being advanced work.
be part of a program in Michigan.
interviewed by Jay Leno or playing a piano
Gene Bortnick says word about his son's
"An Evening of Song, Speech & Vision:'
duet with Diane Sawyer, showed a musical talents spread as people in their neigh-
celebrating 50 years of the local Chabad
interest that his parents, Hannah and Gene borhood heard him at the piano. He was
organization;' begins 6 p.m. Sunday, June
Bortnick, didn't take seriously at first.
asked to do local concerts.
22, at the Rock Financial Showplace in
"I listened to Baby Einstein CDs and
"People apparently e-mailed the Jay
Novi, where there also will be a gourmet
asked my mom and dad for piano lessons:' Leno show about Ethan, and we were
dinner and a speech by Rabbi Yisrael Meir recalls Ethan, who is showcased on a CD
contacted;' says Bortnick, who operates
Lau, the former chief rabbi of Israel.
and DVD (Live in Concert "By Me" Ethan
an Internet business and makes sure that
Ethan, who has memorized more than
Bortnick) to capture the momentum of his Ethan's Web site, wwwethansmusicsite.
200 pieces, is not yet sure what he will
performances.
com, is kept current. "Cameron Diaz was
perform in Michigan, but he is certain
"They told me I wasn't ready — that I
on the show that night, and she suggested
to feature some Jewish songs. His reper-
was still in diapers — but I had a toy key- him to her agent!'
toire, called upon during a Passover tour,
board and was able to play a Mozart piece
Both of Ethan's parents are from
includes "Hava Nagila,""Haveinu Shalom
that I had heard.
Ukraine, but his mom lived in Israel
Aleichem" and "Hatilcvah."
"My mom and dad weren't watching
before coming to the United States, where
"Playing the piano makes me feel good
while I was at the keyboard and asked
the couple met and married. They have a
in my heart, and I have a lot of fun with it;' who was playing that piece. When I said it younger son, Nathan, who is 2 1/2.
says Ethan, who expresses equal enthusi-
was me, they said, 'You're getting a piano!"'
"We enrolled Ethan in a Montessori
asm for all of his bookings and the celeb-
Although Ethan could play by ear, his
school, but we're transferring him to
rities who have invited him to perform.
parents decided to go ahead with private
a Jewish day school next year:' says
"My favorite songs are the ones that go
lessons. The first teacher immediately was Bortnick, who shares his son's excitement
fast and slow, like Mozart's [Rondo] Alla
impressed with his abilities and recom-
with the rapid success. "We looked all
Turka."
mended someone who could do more
around for a program that would accom-

modate Ethan's schedule, and the
Jewish school agreed to be flex-
ible and videotape any classes
that he might miss."
The Bortnicks, in addition to
marveling at their son's talents,
are amazed at the mature way
he handles unexpected or sen-
sitive questions. When a man
asked Ethan how he spends all
the money he makes, the young-
ster replied, "It's not about the
money; it's about the fun."
Ethan, who began reading at 2
and speaks Russian, started com-
posing at 4 but has developed
other interests besides music. He
enjoys family travel to different
cities for his performances, and
he has shared his attention to
nutrition by showing audiences
how to make his favorite dish:
goat cheese salad.
The 7-year-old, a big fan of
Billy Joel and Elton John, is fas-
cinated by animals and has written songs
about them — "Birds of the World" and
"Dinosaur in the Cave" He told Jay Leno
that he sometimes pretends very large
audiences are filled with animals, not
people, if he feels a twinge of nerves.
"I'll always play the piano, but I want
to have my own zoo:' says Ethan, who has
been promised a pet fish for his eighth
birthday in December. "Animals are cool,
sometimes funny and sometimes strange.
I'll let them be free." ❑

See related story on page Bl.

"An Evening of Song, Speech &
Vision" begins 6 p.m. Sunday, June
22, at the Rock Financial Showplace,
46100 Grand River, in Novi. $36,
includes dinner. (248) 877-7978 or
www.lubavitchmi.com.

June 12 • 2008

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