AUSTIN (KXAN) – For 16 years, Austin’s nonprofit Swan Songs has granted the last musical wishes of people with terminal illnesses. Now, the association is expanding its serenades to healthcare workers in Austin who have worked at the forefront of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Each year in October, Swan Songs hosts its annual fundraising gala, where hundreds of people come together for food, music and auctions. Given the state of the pandemic, Swan Songs founder Christine Albert said hosting an in-person event as healthcare workers overwhelmed by COVID-19 cases felt irresponsible .

“It didn’t feel right to me. It was not the right thing to do, ”she said. “It’s not sure, and we’re working so closely with the healthcare community to make musical last wishes come true, that we were keenly aware of the stress of the situation.”

In contact with Amy Lukken, chief joyologist at Tito’s Handmade Vodka, the two said this year’s fundraiser shouldn’t just focus on donors – rather, it should be an extended thank you to healthcare workers who did their best to keep Austin safe. and healthy as possible.

On October 17th, Tito’s and Swan Songs will host “Love, Tito’s & Swan Songs Serenade to Our Healthcare Community”. The live event, starting at 7 p.m., will feature local musicians sharing their music and sending their best wishes to members of the healthcare community.

The event will also include raffle items to help raise funds for the association and feature testimonials from healthcare workers who have been touched by the musical performances.

In the run-up to this year’s fundraiser, Swan Songs has ditched virtual performances by local artists every Friday in order to share messages of encouragement for healthcare workers. Marcia Ball, Ray Benson, Ray Prim and Jackie Venson are some of the artists who will perform at the live broadcast event.

As the October livestream is part of Swan Songs’ annual fundraising efforts, Albert said appreciation and service to healthcare workers should be a year-round effort.

“You know, you see so many of these talking to nurses and doctors as they leave the hospital after a really long shift, and they’re sitting in the parking lot and sort of dealing with what they’ve just come up with. live, “she said. “And I thought those are the times when they might need to release a song from one of their favorite artists or a song that really resonated with them, listen to some music and hear a message. cheering from a local musician. “

These moments of mourning and treatment are those that many have become all too familiar with during the pandemic, Albert said. The beauty of music and its unifying ways lies in its ability to make people feel seen, connected and understood.

In an age when close physical contact is not encouraged, it exists to remind people that they are not alone, she said.

“[Music] allows you to tap into very deep and sometimes complex and conflicting emotions, and just gives you the space to feel them without feeling pressured to put words around and explain it to someone, ”she said. declared.