Paul Klooté – low bass
paul@montezuma.nl

Paul started his life as a student at the Academy of Agriculture in Wageningen. Because he spent more time to all kinds of cabaret groups instead of to his studies, he soon switched to the Academy of Performing Arts in Amsterdam . In 1986 Paul was asked to take over the bass part at Montezuma's Revenge. He was still studying then. During that year Montezuma won the first prize at the National Close Harmony Concours. At first Montezuma was performing only as a part of big business events, but in 1990 the group had its own first theatre show. Although Paul is not one of the founders of the group, he is one of the leading men.

 

"I believe that we have succeeded in using a capella pop music to create our own sound, which is recognizable and has kept us going throughout the years, regardless of changes within the group."

Hans Cassa – bass baritone
hans@montezuma.nl

Hans Cassa finished his studies at the Rotterdam Conservatory in 1992 with a music degree in performance and teaching.

Already during his studies he was singing in several productions. As a member of the jazz improvisation choir Tamam and the a cappella quartet The Oom Maw Maw. After this Hans sang in two shows of Montezuma's Revenge: The Third Act and Blind Man's Dream. In 1994 Hans changed his working field towards musical and played in Cats, My Fair Lady, Evita and Joe, the musical. Then he started to sing in Showbizzcity in which, among others, he took the part of Benny Andersen (ABBA) in the show Dancing Queens . During the summer of 1998 Hans replaced one of the members of Montezuma's Revenge in their Best of Five tour in Germany . In the season 1999-2000 he was a backing vocalist with Robert Long. Since April 2000 Hans is a full member of Montezuma's Revenge again.

"We always tried to extend the boundaries of a cappella pop music. Difficult subjects and complicated arrangements are not avoided"

Menno Stuifmeel - tenor
menno@montezuma.nl

Menno studied at the Royal Conservatory The Hague and graduated in 2003, majoring in school music with a sub-major in jazz piano. He's had piano classes by amongst others Frank Jansen, Willem Khune and Rob van Bavel. After his graduation he was a teacher at the Moller College in Bergen op Zoom. Menno has played in many bands as a pianist and/or singer, Bigshot and Talk of Town are a few examples. He featured as a solo singer with the YMCA Gospel Choir Scheveningen together with the Dutch singer Linda Wagemakers and at the annual Choir Event Super Voices.

Menno joined the group in May 2004.

"In my opinion you could say 'a cappella pop' is practising music in one of its purest forms. In other words, you're naked, therefor in multiple "harmony" in front of a conscious and eager audience without any type of clothing you can hide under, but then in a comfortable manner. Montezuma's Revenge is an experience where commitment and something like 'no strings attached' come together."

Tom Schraven

Op 1 Juli 1988 werd Tom Schraven geboren in Angeren.
Op 11 jarige leeftijd zette Tom zijn muzikaliteit op papier en begon met het schrijven van zijn eigen liedjes. Dit resulteerde in de 1e plaats bij de Kunstbende bij een finale in Popcentrum Vredenburg, finalist bij het Junior Songfestival en diverse andere optredens. Vanaf zijn 14e volgde Tom ook de vooropleiding Muziektheater aan het Conservatorium in Arnhem

Vanaf 2007 startte Tom met de opleiding Muziektheater. Op zoek naar diverse combinaties van muziek, theater en beweging, waaronder ook met z'n eigen muziek. Naast het uitvoeren met zijn stem, is Tom tevens gitarist en pianist.



"It is often said that the audience enjoys watching us sing so much because our enjoyment is clearly visible. This is so true: the performances are true experiences that we also look forward to every time."