National talent competition Celebration of Music, hosted by piano prodigy and philanthropist Ethan Bortnick, will host virtual auditions in Colorado for its nationally televised competition.

Contestants ages 5 to 25 are encouraged to audition for the competition, which will take place May 31 on a YouTube live stream. The competition will showcase bands, soloists, duets, choirs, instrumentalists, a cappella and dancers across the state. Winners of the state competition will proceed to the nationally distributed television show, offered to all PBS television stations across the country.

The Celebration of Music show, hosted by Bortnick, is filmed in the Los Angeles area and will celebrate all the diverse music winners across the country in a TV event. Some winners may also be given an opportunity for a record deal with Sun and Sky Records. Auditions are still open for Colorado contestants and all music acts are encouraged to sign up.

For information, and to audition on Celebration of Music, go to www.celebrationofmusic.com.

Celebration of Music is a national talent search that showcases the best emerging young talents across America where contestants compete locally for the opportunity to perform on the national Celebration of Music Television Show, distributed and offered to PBS stations across the country. 

The contest was inspired by Bortnick and his desire to give young musicians the same opportunities PBS Television afforded him. Originally a live event with audience members placing in-person votes to determine the winners, Celebration of Music has adapted to the new social-distancing norm during the COVID-19 pandemic. Each competition will take place via a YouTube live stream, allowing audience members to place their votes and interact with the contestants and the host himself.

The virtual competitions will also take place in major cities across the country, showcasing a wide range of curated talent nationwide. For individual event details, go to https://celebrationofmusic.com/concerts.

Bortnick has been headlining concerts around the world and giving back since his childhood, after becoming renowned worldwide as a piano prodigy. At 3 years old, Bortnick discovered a rare set of music skills, including perfect pitch, on his little toy keyboard that eventually led him to appearances on “The Tonight Show,” “Oprah,” Disney, Nickelodeon and his award-winning concert specials on PBS.

At the age of 19, Bortnick has raised more than $50 million for nonprofits around the world. He has had more than four National Television Concert Specials, airing at record amounts, while supporting local music and arts in communities across America. He holds the Guinness World Record for the youngest headliner in world history to have his own concert tour at 9 years old.

Bortnick has performed more than 1,000 headlining shows and helped Haiti with his appearance on the recording of “We Are the World” with stars including Tony Bennett, Quincy Jones, Justin Bieber, Kanye West and others.