For Austin-area music nonprofit Swan Songs, October is the month they would typically gather with donors and supporters for the Swan Songs Serenade, in support of their mission to fulfill musical last wishes. In light of the delta variant of COVID-19 and how it is so dramatically impacting Austin, and many other regions around the country, Swan Songs is channeling their event-planning energy into a different musical offering. In collaboration with Tito's Handmade Vodka, they are creating Love, Tito's and Swan Songs Serenade to our Healthcare Community
to offer support through music to the healthcare partners with whom Swan Songs engages as they organize intimate concerts featuring Austin musicians, for those nearing the end of life.
As an organization who works closely with healthcare professionals, we are committed to doing anything in our power to slow the community spread of COVID-19, to keep everyone safe and to let our friends and colleagues know that we are here for them,
said Austin musician and Swan Songs founder and CEO, Christine Albert. In conversations with Amy Lukken, Joyologist at Tito's Handmade Vodka, we discovered that they were also looking for ways to support healthcare workers. Together, we are refocusing the time, energy, and resources it takes to create a large event, and instead sending personalized music directly to that community.
Throughout September and October, Swan Songs will share several songs each week from various Austin artists with the healthcare community, via a QR code leading to a private page on the Swan Songs website. The songs, and a message of support and gratitude from each of the artists, will be accessible to healthcare workers whenever they need a lift - after a difficult shift, a physically or emotionally exhausting day, or during a sleepless night. Each week new songs will appear, offering something to look forward to. On Sunday, October 17, at 7 p.m. CT, with the sponsorship of Tito's Handmade Vodka, Swan Songs will present a selection of the songs in one streaming broadcast, which will be free to view with an option to donate to Swan Songs and purchase raffle tickets for exciting prizes and buy it now
event offers. Although the musical focus is on the healthcare community, funds raised during the Serenade support Swan Songs' important work in the community. More information can be found at www.swansongs.org.
It's been such a long road for our healthcare community caring for those affected by COVID-19,
said Amy Lukken, Joyologist at Tito's Handmade Vodka. We acknowledge the high levels of stress and burnout they must be going through, and want to bring a little joy into their lives through music with our friends at Swan Songs.
Some of the artists who have agreed to serenade our health care community are Marcia Ball, Ray Benson, Jimmie Dale Gilmore & Butch Hancock, Ley Line, Ray Prim, Shinyribs, Jackie Venson, Carolyn Wonderland & Shelley King, with many more to be announced. Swan Songs continues to bring music to those nearing the end of life, shifting the delivery as needed—outside a window, on Zoom, or offering a personalized, pre-recorded concert of the requested music. The organization is currently hiring two new key positions and has used the last year to strengthen its infrastructure to effectively serve the community. To provide essential support to Swan Songs, sponsorships are available at the $1,000, $2,500, $5,000, $10,000, and $20,000 levels.
This year's approach to the Serenade is in alignment with who we are and in tune with the reality of the world around us,
said Albert. We are grateful to the community for their continued support as we 'carry on and remain'—to quote Jimmy LaFave. We will be especially grateful for our supporters' generosity this year as we, like the rest of the community, struggle to cope with the extraordinary challenges of this unique time.
More details about the serenading artists, raffle and sponsors will be announced soon.
ABOUT SWAN SONGS
Swan Songs was officially established in 2005 as an Austin, Texas-based 501(c)(3) organization, although the concept was born in the early '90s when Austin musician Christine Albert (Swan Songs Founder & CEO) was asked to sing for a dying fan. The idea to bring music directly to someone facing the end of life resonated with Austin psychotherapist Gaea Logan (Swan Songs co-founder), and the two women began informally organizing the bedside concerts. The organization is committed to utilizing professional musicians whose expertise and experience are central to the success of the program. They recognize the importance of compensating these artists, therefore a nonprofit was created to raise the necessary funds to offer an honorarium, with no financial obligation on the part of the recipient, their family or the healthcare facility. The name Swan Songs was chosen, inspired in part by John Swann, the terminally ill man Christine first sang for in 1992. Swan Songs has worked with dozens of regional hospices and care facilities and compensated over 500 musicians through the years. As the program evolved, it became apparent that there was a more compelling desire to request a certain style of music than a specific artist, although some regional artists have been requested by name (Guy Forsyth, Eliza Gilkyson, Ruthie Foster, Jimmy LaFave, Bob Schneider, Ray Benson, Carolyn Wonderland, Marcia Ball, The Flatlanders and more). Swan Songs works diligently to match the style of music requested with the appropriate musician(s). The variety of requests over the years reflects how deep an individual's connection with music can be based on a lifetime of memories, culture, heritage and geography. Whatever connects the recipient to those memories, their family, their joy—that is what Swan Songs brings.
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Swan Songs
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