YOUNG musicians paid homage to a jazz great on what would have been his 100th birthday ahead of a special concert at the Brighton Dome celebrating the centenary of his birth.

The group from Dorothy Stringer School were remembering Thelonius Monk.

The gala concert, led by award-winning pianist and composer Peter Edwards, will also include young musicians from Brighton schools as part of The Jazz Ticket.

Renowned pianist Thelonius Monk rewrote the book on modern jazz and his name is associated with some of the most original and challenging music of the 20th century.

Monk’s legacy is being celebrated alongside five other pioneering musical icons who also share his birth year – vocalist Ella Fitzgerald, trumpeter Dizzy Gillespie, percussionist Mongo Santamaria, composer “Tadd” Dameron and drummer Buddy Rich.

It is part of a nationwide music education project that brings together young musicians from across the UK to work with leading jazz professionals on a set of compositions marking the centenary of the birth of six giants of jazz.

Five Brighton schools – Blatchington Mill, Cardinal Newman, Varndean, Patcham High, Dorothy Stringer and Hove Park school – and one community outreach organisation, AudioActive, have participated in the project.

The scheme is organised by national scheme The Jazz Ticket and produced by Tomorrow’s Warriors.

It culminates in a special evening at Brighton Dome featuring young musicians from the six schools, performing alongside professional jazz ensemble, the Nu Civilisation Orchestra.

The unique event combines archive film portraits, with electrifying live performance from some of the finest jazz musicians of the moment.

They include Binker Golding (of Mobo Award-winning Binker & Moses) on tenor saxophone, Nathaniel Facey (Empirical) on alto saxophone, Byron Wallen on trumpet, and Gary Crosby (Jazz Jamaica) on double bass.

Peter Chivers, head of Brighton and Hove Music and Arts, said: “Brighton & Hove Music and Arts (BHMA) became part of Brighton Dome and Brighton Festival on July 1 and we are delighted to be directly involved with this exciting education project, bringing jazz to the forefront of our city’s musical minds.

“BHMA provides high quality and inclusive music and arts education and performance opportunities for all children and young people across the city including music lessons, ensembles, projects, workshops, orchestras, summer schools and dance classes.

“The Jazz Ticket is an exciting and unique experience for our young musicians in the city.

“Exploring the work of these jazz greats with leading jazz professionals and performing together will be the start of an inspiring musical journey.”

Peter Edwards is the musical director for the Nu Civilisation Orchestra and is an alumni of the Tomorrow’s Warriors young artist development programme.

The Nu Civilisation Orchestra concert is suitable for jazz fans of all ages.

Tickets are £15 each and under 18s go free.