In “Hearts for the Arts,” columnist Charlotte “Charlie” Burks ’27 spotlights various Stanford student groups that perch at the nexus of art and service.

The question “What is Talisman?” evokes the same response from each of the Stanford a cappella group members: warm smiles and an outpouring of well-loved memories.

“Not to sound cliche, but it is a family,” Talisman Business Manager and tenor Mauricio Alvarez ’27 said in response to the question.

As one of Stanford’s ten a cappella groups, Talisman is dedicated to storytelling through song. The ensemble’s repertoire is sung in multiple languages and originates from all over the world. The group performs selections from every continent except Antarctica, according to Talisman Director and alto Maya Green ’25.

This year marks Talisman’s 35th anniversary. When the group started 1990, their original purpose was to tell South African stories about Apartheid. Green said the ensemble’s repertoire has since extended to “other places in the world where there are similar struggles happening or where similar triumphs have been achieved.”

The group’s 20 members travel domestically and internationally, performing for and teaching in communities whose stories are “untold or undertold,” Green said. Group members carefully research their next destination to plan their goals and develop an understanding for the setting in which they will perform, Co-Financial Officer and tenor Omkar Katre ’27 said. Talisman’s annual spring tour has taken the group to the American South and Thailand. Most recently, the students visited Sydney, Australia during spring break of 2024. 

While in Australia, the students spent a large amount of time with the First Nations indigenous community, Katre said. Though the group did perform for local communities and learn new music, the true intention was to speak to the First Nations community in order to learn their story and culture.

The goal of the Australia trip was formulated shortly before the group’s departure from the U.S. 

“There was a referendum going on… [the basis of which] was to put all the representation of the indigenous peoples of Australia under a very limited number of representatives,” Katre said. This referendum proved especially troubling given that there are hundreds of tribes or smaller states within Australia’s indigenous people. 

Once in Australia, Talisman heard stories and traditions of the First Nations people and learned welcoming and purifying rituals, Alvarez said. 

“We sang for them, and they were moved — and we were moved, too, because they were happy about our music,” Alvarez said. “We sing in languages that people barely hear. When we are able to convey the message we want to people who don’t know the language, it’s just beautiful.” 

Though the group may bring back traditional cultural songs from their travels to Stanford’s campus, music is only brought back if permitted. For example, the group’s First Nations hosts requested members not to share songs that were learned, as the music is deeply entrenched in First Nations tradition and culture, Katre said.

The group also has fun both on their travels and on campus, amid the gravity of the stories they tell through song. 

“Imagine being on a 17-hour flight with all your best friends,” Alvarez said.

In Sydney, the a cappella members also explored both the city and its nightlife. 

Katre said the group is perceived in two ways. For members of the group, the community is “so sweet, caring and nurturing.” To outside spectators, though, “it’s a call for inclusion and for wanting there to be more civility in the world,” Katre said.