The Illinois Rip Chords

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign’s competitive, treble a cappella group

About Us

The Illinois Rip Chords are the only treble a cappella group that competes at the University of Illinois. The Rips were established in 1992 as a small group of five, and as the years passed, we grew in size to about fifteen members and expanded in both range and vocal quality. The Rip Chords perform a wide variety of songs and styles. Previously, we have performed selections from famous artists such as Carrie Underwood, Fleetwood Mac, Sara Bareilles, and Stevie Wonder. More recently, the Rip Chords have embraced a more modern sound, performing songs by Olivia Rodrigo, Renee Rapp, Yebba, and Dua Lipa.

The Rips love entertaining audiences with their powerhouse sound and are well-remembered by audiences for creative choreography and consistent blend. We perform at various fall and spring concerts and compete in the International Championship of Collegiate A Cappella (ICCA) annually. In 2016, the Rip Chords placed First in the Great Lakes Quarterfinals and advanced to the semifinal round of the competition, and in 2021, the Rips placed 3rd in the Quarterfinals with our music video, 'Shut Up and Drive.' Additionally, the Rip Chords have released 3 studio albums and several singles on streaming platforms, amassing over 100,000 streams on Spotify.

Our long-awaited EP ‘Shattering Everything’ as well as our lead single ‘Reflections’ are available on most music streaming platforms. Be sure to check it out!

Member Testimonials

Let’s Talk!

Leave us a message if you would like us to contact you.

theripchords@gmail.com
+1 630-544-9819

The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign