His pathway to jazz began in high school with the help of his teachers when they recommended jazz music for the techniques and rhythms.
“It turned out I really loved jazz the whole time and didn’t know it,” says Dexter.
Although Dexter has always been passionate about music, he was surprised to find that you could study it at university—he had a science degree in mind. After learning this was possible, Dexter decided to study Jazz at the University, along with his other passion, German.
“People say a lot of the time music is its own language...one of the best things was learning German songs, combining both music and German together and building on both skills at the same time,” says Dexter.
While at university, he was able to play various venues through the jazz school, including performing at Hotel Bristol, playing in the jazz orchestra at the Opera House, participating in the Wellington Jazz Festival, and being able to play with well-known jazz musicians from around the world.
Dexter also completed a Graduate Certificate in TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) which led him to travel to Macau, China twice. Dexter’s passion for German helped him to become an ambassador for Victoria University of Wellington’s German programme, going into high schools to encourage students to consider learning German at the University. This allowed Dexter to give back to the community and inspire future students from around Wellington.
Dexter went through his studies with a positive mindset and hopeful outlook.
“I think if you’re honest and true to yourself, and you know what you believe is right and you work for it, people are there for you or will come around.”
After finishing his Honours year, Dexter worked in hospitality, taught music in Wellington, and continued to play gigs around the country, before being invited to join a band that was moving to Germany. Dexter started working with the band in September 2018, moving to Berlin early in 2019.
The variety of musical opportunities in Germany allowed Dexter to meet more people and expand his horizons.
“It’s an amazing city. I mean three and a half million people, so just by sheer numbers the opportunities were more numerous. I think Wellington has two to three jam sessions a week, in Berlin you have two to three every night of the week.”
Not only were the musical opportunities amazing, but his German language skills helped him to take advantage of all Berlin has to offer.
“Even if you can exist in Berlin without speaking any German, it does help socially getting into German circles and navigating your way through and feeling more comfortable there,” says Dexter.
After three and a half years in Berlin with the band, Dexter is now in New York to study towards a Master of Jazz at the Aaron Copland School of Music. His partner, who he met in Berlin, is going with him.
“I never thought I’d make it out of New Zealand with music, let alone to the heart of jazz, so I’m beyond excited to be there.”
After completing their respective Masters degrees in the States, Dexter and his partner plan to split their time between New Zealand and Berlin. Their dream would to be based in Germany but come home for New Zealand’s summer, says Dexter, perhaps through offering workshops and master classes while home.
Dexter hopes to inspire other members of the Pasifika community into seeing that they can achieve amazing things, particularly in jazz music.
“Seeing people like yourself in these positions, makes you think ‘wow I can do this ―somebody (else) has, so why not me?”