The Illinois Rip Chords

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

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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

  • Isabella Kim

    “The Rips makes my college experience so enjoyable. They’re literally my whole world. I feel so lucky to be a Rip because I get to continue my passion of singing while also hanging with some of the best people I’ve met on this campus. They’re people I study with or get food and boba with and I’m never bored or lonely on this campus because I have a group of amazing people who I can count on and hang out literally whenever.“

  • Michaela Justus

    “I truly don’t know what I would do without the Rip Chords being a part of my life. Getting in last year completely changed the trajectory of my college experience for the better. I’ve met amazing people and I’ve learned so much more about music. It’s an amazing musical outlet and I love love love the Rip Chords so much!”

  • Zainab Haque

    “Being a Rip has made my college experience 10x better and I have become a happier and more confident person because of it. Being a Rip Chord means you are surrounded by people who genuinely care and are so full of life and love. You slowly start realizing that these people become a part of you, and you realize your presence is part of something larger. It’s a wonderful feeling.”

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