Syrian National Orchestra for Arabic Music to perform at Southbank Centre with Damon Albarn

Concert is part of the major programme commemorating the centenary of the First World War

Damon Albarn and Gorillaz with the Syrian National Orchestra for Arabic Music in London in 2010

Syrian musicians dispersed around the world by the civil war are to perform for the first time since the conflict began in a UK show with long-time collaborator Damon Albarn.

The concert by the Syrian National Orchestra for Arabic Music at the Southbank Centre in London on 25 June is part of the major programme commemorating the centenary of the First World War.

Organisers hope it will present a positive reminder of the strength and joy of Syrian culture “at a time when the messages about Syria are so negative”.

The Blur frontman is currently talking to the orchestra’s conductor Issam Rafea about what they will play and which guests they will invite to perform. The concert will be orchestral music “with a strong Arabic flavour”, the organisers said.

Rafea, principal conductor since the orchestra turned professional in 2003, is currently in the US seeking asylum, but remains in touch with many of the members.

The concert is presented by Africa Express, which brings musicians together from around the world, co-founded by Albarn and the journalist Ian Birrell.

Mr Birrell said the organisation hoped to bring about 35 of the 90 members of the orchestra to London, as well as a 20-strong choir. Most of the musicians are in Syria and the neighbouring countries, but eight are in Germany and others are in the Netherlands, Sweden and Denmark. None are currently in the UK.

“It is organisationally challenging,” Mr Birrell said of trying to bring them all together, and the first issue is securing a visa for them all to travel to London. Some do not even have passports as they had to flee their home country.

The Syrian orchestra first performed with Albarn in 2008, and then collaborated on the track “White Flag” by another of the Blur frontman’s groups Gorillaz and performed together on tour.