Last updated on June 14, 2016 at 08:29 a.m.
The Barden Bellas from Pitch Perfect are not the only a cappella group around. A
cappella, which is singing done without any instruments, is on the rise due to reality TV
shows like “Sing It On.” The University is home to nine a cappella groups. Ranging from
allfemale to allmale and even coed, each groups’ type and dynamics all vary. A few
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group members gave insight into what their a cappella groups are all about.
No Comment
No Comment is a nationally ranked, coed a cappella group that was formed in 2004.
“With a coed group, you get both ends of the spectrum,” said Micah Tryba, soontobe
graduate student in Veterinary Medicine and fourthyear member of No Comment. “You
get the superlow voices in the men and the superhigh voices in the girls, and that just
comes out to a really, what I think, is a fuller sound.”
No Comment is competitionfocused and in recent years has succeeded at the
International Championship of Collegiate A cappella, otherwise known as ICCA.
“We’ve had a lot of success at ICCA, and … I think we put a little more stock into ICCA
than some of the other groups do,” Tryba said.
Similar to other groups on campus, No Comment covers a wide range of music genres.
“We’ve done everything from Country to EDM,” Tryba said. “The majority of our stuff is
popbased, and we also are known, more so than other groups, for throwing in a
musical piece every year.”
Tryba said her favorite thing about No Comment is the friends she has made. “They’ll all
be at my wedding; they’re just my best friends.”
Rip Chords
The Rip Chords is an allfemale a cappella group that was founded at the University in
1992. Despite what Pitch Perfect may stereotype about allfemale a cappella groups,
the Rip Chords are different.
“We chose songs that are not necessarily as girly as you might think for an allfemale a
cappella group,” said Sarah Sandberg, alumnus and thirdyear Rip Chords member.
“We wear leather and black and boots and want to show people we’re not just girly
girls.”
Like No Comment, Xtension Chords and a few other a cappella groups on campus, Rip
Chords participate in ICCA; however, they are the only allfemale group from the
University to attend.
“This year, we won our quarterfinal and got to advance to semifinals in Chicago, which
is a huge deal because it’s pretty uncommon for allfemale groups to advance,”
Sandberg said.
Sandberg added that combining her passion for singing and getting to perform with her
favorite group of people is her favorite aspect of being a part the Rip Chords.
Xtension Chords
The Xtension Chords is an allmale a cappella group that has been singing around
campus since 1992.
Michael Kim, junior in Engineering and second year member of the Xtension Chords,
said the highenergy, entertaining and funny performances are what made him want to
join this group.
Singing a wide variety of songs, the Xtension Chords take more of a modern approach
on a cappella, rather than a contemporary approach that other groups on campus such
as The Other Guys do. Although their take on a cappella may be different than others,
the groups do all have one thing in common.
“I think we all try to entertain the audience,” Kim said. “All of our styles are very different
and unique, but at the end of the day, we’re all supporting each other.”
In the end, the a cappella groups take their passions for singing to provide
entertainment to those around them. The different groups even get together for events
such as a cappella barn dances and “Acaformal.”
“It really is a huge community, and everyone is very supportive of each other, so we like
to see each other outside of rehearsal where there may not be that competition
element,” Sandberg said.
