is a Sāmoan drummer, composer and educator from Wellington, New Zealand. Dexter graduated from the New Zealand School of Music with a Bachelor's degree in Jazz with First Class Honours.

After freelancing in New Zealand and Germany, Dexter was awarded the prestigious Fulbright Scholarship, which enabled him to complete a Master's degree in Jazz Studies (Summa Cum Laude - GPA 3.96/1,03) at the Aaron Copland School of Music in New York City, USA.

During his time in the US, Dexter performed across the country, including debuts at Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center's Geffen Hall and the Louis Armstrong House Museum, where he premiered the world's first Asia-Pacific Jazz Orchestra. After a successful audition, he became a roster member of the GRAMMY Award-winning Afro Latin Jazz Orchestra under the direction of Arturo O'Farrill.

His career has taken him to Singapore, Hong Kong, Macau, Samoa, the USA and Germany. He has played with jazz legends such as Antonio Hart, George Coleman, Rufus Reid and Alex Sipiagin. Although his greatest passion is big band and straight-ahead jazz, he is also enthusiastic about Afro-Cuban music, Brazilian rhythms, country and folk music.

Dexter continues to lead the Asia-Pacific Jazz Orchestra, a professional jazz orchestra for musicians from Asia and the Pacific dedicated to playing and composing jazz. He is also the music director of Fat'n'Fancy Music, an ensemble he co-leads with his wife Bridget Kinneary. The ensemble aims to combine elements of jazz and classical music educationally, musically and socially. Their first show in Berlin is planned for April 2025.

As an educator, Dexter has been teaching both privately and at music academies in New Zealand, Germany and the USA since 2015 - to students of all ages and levels including university. He considers it a great honour to play with and inspire musicians all over the world. He is always willing to learn, share his knowledge and continue his musical journey - no matter where it takes him next! 

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While he is most passionate about big band and straight-ahead jazz, (Alex Sipiagin, Roberto Manzin, Umar Zakaria, New Zealand Youth Jazz Orchestra, Lauren Nottingham) he also loves Brazilian, Afro-Cuban, funk, indie-pop and folk music. Dexter’s willingness to learn has led to engagements with a wide range of musical ensembles, including:

 

• Opeloge Ah Sam Quintet, playing contemporary Polynesian jazz based on Sāsā, Siva and funk-fusion

• Umar Zakaria Quartet, playing standards, arrangements, and Malay-inspired jazz originals 

• Bohemian Thought, playing Fela Kuti-inspired Afrobeat with spoken word poetry

• Garáge Latino and C-26, Colómbian/Perúvian bands playing cumbia, salsa, merengue and guáguanco

• Idhayam, an Indian-Jazz Fusion band playing Carnatic music based on Indian Konnakol and Raga

• Mark Eden, an Australian alternative rock trio who had tours across Europe and performances with the BBC (England) planned until the Covid-19 pandemic

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As well as a lover of performance and composition,

Dexter is a passionate educator, who finds joy in teaching and helping students to discover their talents and possibilities in music. He has coached jazz ensembles as a guest artist, directed choirs and taught private drum lessons in:

 

• New Zealand: El Sistema Whangarei, Kaitaia College, Rātā School of Music, Opononi Music Camp

• Asia: The University of Macau

• Europe: Berlin Cosmopolitan School, Home Music Teachers Germany, and

• USA: American Samoa Community College, Queens College Teaching Artist

 

Dexter plays Bosphorus cymbals.