Child Prodigy Ethan Bortnick to Open 27th National Space Symposium

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (Nov. 30, 2010) — The National Space Symposium is noted for its spectacular Opening Ceremony and dramatic musical performances. The 2011 Opening Ceremony, sponsored by Northrop Grumman, will live up to that reputation with nine-year-old piano prodigy Ethan Bortnick, who is also a composer, songwriter, actor, musician and one of the youngest philanthropists in the world. “Ethan epitomizes the promise of his generation,” said Space Foundation Chief Executive Officer Elliot Pulham. “He is talented, creative and caring. His performance supports the Space Foundation’s mission to inspire, enable and propel humanity by underscoring the importance of investing in the next generation of leaders. Our generation must enable them to become a conscientious world of ‘doers’ and inspire them to show compassion for others.”

Presented by the Space Foundation, the 27th National Space Symposium is held April 11-14 at The Broadmoor Hotel in Colorado Springs, Colo., and is considered the premier gathering of the global space community

About Bortnick
Bortnick has appeared on national TV shows on every major network including The Tonight Show (four times since 2007), The Oprah Winfrey Show, Good Morning America and The Martha Stewart Show. He has performed in concerts and televised specials, both nationally and internationally and has made a name for himself as one of the world’s youngest philanthropists, using his talent to help people, especially children. Through concert and charity events, Bortnick has shared the stage with legendary artists including Elton John, Natalie Cole, Smokey Robinson, Beyoncé, Reba McEntire and many more.

In August 2010, he achieved the honor of being the youngest musician with a PBS concert special. Recorded at the historic El Rey Theatre in Los Angeles, Ethan Bortnick and His Musical Time Machine featured Bortnick performing musical classics from all eras and included guest appearances by artists such as Arturo Sandoval and Gloria Gaynor. The concert special was released on CD/DVD on Oct. 26 through Razor & Tie. In January, Bortnick will take his musical time machine on the road for his first national headlining tour, visiting more than 20 cities across North America.

About the 27th National Space Symposium
The 27th National Space Symposium features forums, panels, presentations, speeches, special events and ample opportunity to hear from and network with the space community’s most influential leaders. Following through on its mission to inspire the next generation, the Symposium will feature expanded New Generation Space Leaders programs for young, up-and-coming space professionals, age 35 and younger. It will repeat the popular “speed mentoring” session from 2010 with top-level space leaders, as well as special targeted sessions and events. New Generation speakers will also be integrated into the Symposium agenda.

The 27th National Space Symposium will also feature an educational component, an extension of its comprehensive space-based education programs. The Space Foundation will host a national group of Teacher Liaisons and selected Colorado teachers and students for workshops, tours and “Audience with an Astronaut” sessions.  

Register Now
Online registration and more information, including agenda, speakers and exhibitors, are available at www.NationalSpaceSymposium.org. Industry attendees who register before Jan. 14, 2011, can save up to $500 with the Super Early Bird rate.

27th National Space Symposium Co-Sponsors
Confirmed co-sponsors of the 27th National Space Symposium include a.i. solutions; Analytical Graphics, Inc. (AGI); ATK; Ball Aerospace & Technologies Corp.; The Boeing Company; Booz Allen Hamilton; Cisco Systems, Inc.; General Dynamics; Integral Systems; International Space University; Lockheed Martin; Northrop Grumman; Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne; Raytheon; SpaceX; Stellar Solutions; and United Space Alliance. Space News International and Aviation Week are official media partners. Additional sponsorship opportunities are available; interested companies should contact [email protected].

About the Space Foundation
The Space Foundation is a global, nonprofit organization and the foremost advocate for all sectors of the space industry – civil, commercial, military and intelligence. Founded in 1983, the Space Foundation is a leader in space awareness activities, educational programs that bring space into the classroom, and major industry events, including the National Space Symposium, all in support of its mission “to advance space-related endeavors to inspire, enable and propel humanity.” An expert in all aspects of the global space industry, the Space Foundation publishes The Space Report: The Authoritative Guide to Global Space Activity and provides three indices that track daily performance of the space industry. Through its Space Certification and Space Technology Hall of Fame® programs, the Space Foundation recognizes space-based technologies and innovations that have been adapted to improve life on Earth. Headquartered in Colorado Springs, the Space Foundation conducts research and analysis and government affairs activities from its Washington, D.C., office and has field representatives in Houston, Texas, and Cape Canaveral, Fla. For more information, visit www.SpaceFoundation.org. Follow us on Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn, and read about the latest space news and Space Foundation activities in Space Watch.

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