Coming out of lockdown and bringing together amateur and professional musicians at The People’s Requiem, to remember those we lost, was incredibly moving.

Sage Gateshead has been part of watching our children grow up - from listening to our daughter sing in Quay Lasses, pacing the corridor during piano exams, or celebrating Christmas with a trip to The Snowman. It’s woven into our family history.

I want to see the experiences our family had on offer to all families across the region - and I want to continue to be able to hear world-class performers in an amazing venue without having to leave the North East.

It’s an amazing venue for music of all kinds. I have attended many events here - it’s my favourite local venue.

From 2018, meeting up and dancing in the foyer with all of my Orbital pals from all over the country. I only ever bump into them all at Orbital gigs throughout the country. It was an amazing gig and I was won over by the foyer being used as a venue. Please come back and repeat!

Underworld performing Dubnobasswithmyheadman in 2015, in its entirety. This was on my made-up list of perfect gigs and when the tickets were announced it was like my dream came true! They were tremendous in every way possible.

Lemon Jelly was my first ever Sage Gateshead gig in 2005 and it paved the way for many gigs to follow over the years. I was astounded at how perfect the music sounded, and the fact that Lemon Jelly held a game of bingo. They were amazing and I miss them.

They say never meet your hero it can only lead to disappointment, but in my case it was because it turns you into a jibbering wreck . The person in question was Booker T Jones who signed albums after the gig. The guy has played on every Stax hit and I’m meeting him. So I’m standing to meet him and get the album signed. It’s a cold day but I’m getting hotter and hotter, my shirt is soaking. Finally I meet him shake that hand that has played on some of the greatest songs ever. He played with Otis Redding, my god, and I shook his hand. 

He was so magnanimous in those few minutes I had with him - a real gentleman. I asked him in my best Geordie accent if he ever met up with their “rivals” the Funk Brothers who played on all the Motown hits. Not sure he really understood me, but he simply said they were all good friends despite working for rivals - very diplomatic. So with album in hand, my soaking shirt and I left with a huge grin on my face, off into to the welcome chill of the night air.

Stunning design and acoustics, the variety of performances, musical genres and opportunities to learn. My memories include shaking James Brown’s hand from the front row, learning to play ukelele and seeing Grace Jones hula hoop.

This is a building which is set in the future and will not date in many a lifetime. I would like it to accept future performances from musically-minded people and performers.

The memory that stays with me was looking over to see my 20 year old son totally enthralled with tears dripping off his chin - such a moving, memorable experience. The acoustics were fabulous.

Mark Lanegan in Sage Two - this venue is so perfect. Lanegan says little, sings a lot and pulls you in to the music. Add to this the vibe of Sage Two and for 90 minutes I don’t feel like I’m watching a performance, I feel part of the performance. Perfect, perfect, perfect. Then Lanegan dies and this is the last time I got to hear him sing live.

My dad was the tower crane operator who helped build Sage Gateshead and lowered all the panes of glass. Every time I see it I think of how proud I am of him. He has now been retired for over 10 years and later went on to display his art at St Mary’s Heritage Centre.

My mam works there and it makes the building more special for me. I also remember at Christmas, there were lasers and the first job I wanted to do was to control the Sage Gateshead lasers.

I get very moved and proud when attending a concert at Sage Gateshead. My two favourites have to be Nik Kershaw and Howard Jones. My wife and I attended both, and at 56 to be singing along to songs that provided the soundtrack to my late teens and early twenties, and still remembering all the lyrics like it was yesterday, had me in tears. 

England over the decades has produced amazing talents, and these two in my view rank among the best. 

Best wishes with your decision making and for Sage Gateshead’s future in our homeland. I’m very proud to be a Geordie, and Sage Gateshead and the quayside is two of the reasons why, along with Sting, Mark Knopfler and Lindisfarne. Haway the lads!

Coming back up North - the sight of Sage Gateshead, awesome, familiar and always smiling.

The diversity of performances, the chance to see something new. The support of local and international musicians and the emphasis on classical performances. There’s nowhere else that I can think of that can beat the diverse and exciting programming in 100 miles! The acoustics, the atmosphere, the beautiful building. Memories of going here for all of my young adult / adult life. 

A truly special place and a place to go at special times.

Seeing my all time favourite band Crosby Stills & Nash. When they sang Suite: Judy Blue Eyes as an encore I couldn’t speak for some time after! Sitting there with all my friends around me; listening to them sing an all time classic of mine for over 40 years. Sharing that with friends, who I have listened to it many times with throughout our lives, was one of the most amazing moments of my life.

We publish videos from independent artists weekly, giving them a platform on our channels.

More of the same diversity and an expansion of this. Encouraging people to break through the mental barriers they have to embrace music that is not their mainstream listening. We are so fortunate here - whatever it gets called in the name change.

I was with Streetwise Opera and performed regularly. I especially enjoyed the performance of Tell Me The Truth About Love.

I sang with the Inspiration Choir and the RNS but watching my daughter, who was a child at the time, walk in to Sage One with an armed forces veteran to pass on a poppy for the Remembrance concert, was very moving. 

Sage Gateshead is a place that has fostered my love of singing - an amazing mindfulness tool which has helped me through some tough battles in my life. This is where I have some amazing memories and is a place I have met good friends with a common love of singing.

We come every year to see the Transatlantic Sessions concert which we always enjoy, an opportunity to see world-class folk musicians playing together.

I’m Isabelle and started at Sage Gateshead recently. I’ve recently auditioned to go to a music school in Manchester and I’ve received a lot of wonderful support from the staff that I am associated with here. I have a lot of feeling of family here.

My name’s John, I’ve been coming to concerts at Sage Gateshead since it very first opened. But my outstanding memory is of the day it re-opened after lockdown, and I came to see the People’s Requiem - the Verdi Requiem - and my wife was in the choir. From the first chord onwards I filled up, and throughout the whole performance I was the same, I was full of tears. And it was just coming back together as part of the community and hearing such creativity and such joy, it was a wonderful place to be that night. 

Kiefer Sutherland tweeted about Greggs and within the hour there was a massive Greggs delivery at the stage door.

The In Harmony Performance and BBC coverage was one of the most heartwarming experiences I’ve had at SG.

Performing as a backing vocalist for Efterklang (rock band) and Royal Northern Sinfonia with John Grant supporting and Budgie (BUDGIE!) on drums.

The acoustics of the building and the beauty. Watching customers’ faces when they first enter the halls. Magic.

We are a collective of music lovers - different ages, different skills. That’s what Sage Gateshead is all about.

One of my highlights has to be watching ET with a live orchestra.

We created a new ensemble - RNS Moves - a place for disabled and non-disabled musicians to perform together at the highest level alongside the Royal Northern Sinfonia.

I really enjoy visiting the Music Education Centre at Sage and seeing how engaged the youngsters are.

Orbital performing on the concourse was a stand-out moment for me. To take a ‘rave’ scenario and put it on the concourse really brought the place to life in a very contemporary way.

Hi, I’m Lynne and my moment was when Lars Vogt played the Goldberg Variations just for me, and none of the other people in the hall.

I’m Rob Williamson, I’m Chief Executive of the Community Foundation, Tyne and Wear, and Northumberland, one of Sage Gateshead’s major funders. We are hugely proud in the region to have Sage Gateshead here and to have the largest arts endowment outside London, as I understand it; supporting arts education and participation, and brilliant entertainment, right here on the banks of the Tyne. 

Seeing Diversity rehearsing outside on the street before they went on stage (probably filming a TikTok too).

Our group for people over the age of 50 got together and wrote a song during lockdown called We’ve Got Time On Our Hands. It shows what a lifeline our classes are for friendships and community.

Johnny Vegas stage diving into a seated auditorium at a Teenage Cancer Trust gig.

Seeing young people from all across the region perform in Sage One for CoMusica’s 10th birthday with face paints, costumes and confetti cannons is something I will always remember.

The After Dark Festival is fresh and invigorating. It was great to see new audiences use the building in different ways.

Kae Tempest in Sage One – Top five all-time gigs EVER.

I watched The Messiah signed in British Sign Language and had a new and wonderful sensory experience.

Supporting Talisk, my favourite band, on the stage at Sage One this year is the highlight of my life so far. I’ve been playing here since I was six years old.

Hi my name’s Jessica, and this was the first place that I ever played in front of a live audience. I came to The Sage when I was around 8 years old, and I’ve been coming here ever since. I came here to do music lessons and to play in the young musicians programmes and In Harmony, which is a project that gives young children the chance to play an instrument and really discover themselves. 

I personally love The Sage because this is a place that helped to build my confidence and who I am. Without music I wouldn’t be able to express myself the way that I can right now, so I feel that The Sage is a very unique and meaningful place and I really love the unity and the diversity. I love how everyone comes here to do one thing; when you’re on the school bus and you’re coming to The Sage to come play your instruments and you’re unpacking your instruments and just the excitement of getting on the stage and playing – that togetherness, no matter where you come from, who you are, your gender, whatever, just coming here to play altogether and do one synchronised thing is a really beautiful thing and I think it is an example of what the world should actually be like, I feel like Sage is an example of how I feel the world should be.

My name’s Peter Woolford. 

I’m a regular here, coming mostly to see the Royal Northern Sinfonia. I’ve had some fantastic experiences learning about classical music but my favourite from them are the Star Wars nights – absolutely the best. You see the orchestra come out and the conductor’s conducting with the lightsaber. It’s the best and it will bring in a lot of interest when people come here and they can learn from it because then they can go back and see a different experience with classical music, and with the rock music that plays in this venue as well.

I’ve supported the orchestra since it first formed in 1958. I think I might be the longest serving member on the RNS Friends Committee.

We celebrated Beethoven’s 250th birthday with four visiting orchestras and the Royal Northern Sinfonia performing all of his symphonies - and more - in two days.

I’m Mike Ranson, I think Sage Gateshead is a wonderful venue in the North East and the way it supports children and young people to make music and learn about music is fantastic.

The Royal Northern Sinfonia come into school and really inspire the kids. We have brass days, string days, the kids can see them perform, sit alongside them, practise with them. It’s brilliant.

People still talk about the BBC 6 Music Weekend - a very memorable event across the whole building.

Hi I’m Gwen, and what I love about Sage Gateshead is that you can perform anything here; it can be dance, music - any type of music - and it’ll always be good. 

One of my favourite memories is when I performed here with my school, I was about 10 and it was the first time I’d ever sung in front of other people, and it was really special - I’ve loved coming here. I’ve been coming here since I was little, my mum came here when she was pregnant with me, so it’s always been a part of my life and it always will be. 

Sage Gateshead helped me learn how to play the Northumberland pipes in my scout group when I was 11. We were a group of friends, laughing, getting it wrong, and learning in a fun way.

John Lill playing Beethoven’s 3rd Piano Concerto with the Royal Northern Sinfonia.

Hello, I’m Wendy Holland. I’ve been a participant in the community music programme since 2008. 

I’ve enjoyed participating in a lot of genres of music; things I would never have thought of participating in, like being in a rock group. I’ve enjoyed performances in Sage One, both attending and being on the stage as well. I’ve also been an ambassador for the programme and have done research into what the successes are of the community music programme. 

There are so many different experiences here - from music education and communities getting together, to raucous performances you might not expect, to ordinary people on stage supporting a live artist, and then there’s the incredible Royal Northern Sinfonia.

The People’s Requiem - stunning performance of Verdi’s Requiem, the quality was incredible and it was one of the most amazing and emotional things I’ve ever done.

When Lars Vogt fell ill, the RNS played without him for the first half of the performance, as the replacement conductor - Peter Donohoe - hadn’t yet arrived. That was an amazing feat in itself. Then when he finally made it on stage, having never met the orchestra and with no rehearsal, they played Beethoven’s Emperor Concerto - and it worked. It was absolutely extraordinary.

I’ve learned so much about the power of music and the impact it has on people’s lives. I’m so proud of the success stories that come out of our learning programme.

Hi, I’m Vanessa, and what I love about Sage Gateshead is the place that it is for me and the things that it holds for me, the community that it has and the things that I get to do here. 

When I drive up the A1, I’m more happy to see the three ‘lumps’ of this building on the horizon than any other North East landmark. To me, it’s the most iconic of them all.

Hi my name’s Chris. I had the great honour to sing with Bobby McFerrin on this very stage!

Hello, I’m Ross Millard, I’m a musician from the area. Some of the more special moments in Sage Gateshead for me have been the concerts or festivals that have confounded our expectations as audience members. Thinking particularly of Orbital performing on the concourse and it being kind of wild and an amazing light show, full of bodies. The Americana festival, which brings the whole space to life, including the outside area, and some of those other festival moments. The Jazz Festival, where you get all sorts of eccentric, wild performances in all of the different spaces. Tusk, which has been housed here for about 5 years now, and is a really valuable aspect of the Sage programme…just quite amazing to think all of those performances can happen under one roof. 

We’ve created some wonderful communities here at Sage Gateshead, where people use music to cope with everyday struggles, loss and health issues.

I’ve been coming here since it opened and love classical and folk music. One of my most memorable moments was seeing Rhiannon Giddens play here.

Hi, my name’s Marzuqah and my favourite moment in Sage Gateshead was when it first started and In Harmony first came to Hawthorn Primary School. They told us we could come to Sage Gateshead for an opportunity to try out new instruments, so I came with my family and we tried out lots of new instruments and ever since then I’ve been playing an instrument. 

It’s a hugely welcoming place. I saw Roger Norrington in his last ever performance here, and he encouraged the audience to applaud wherever they liked.

Hi I’m Jack. This venue is hugely important to me; it’s a huge source of pride that we have such a beautiful, brilliant, amazing sounding venue, right here in Tyneside - and I just love coming here. 

I was very grateful for all the online sessions Sage Gateshead provided during lockdown. It’s really important even now as it gives lots of people access to the building who might not otherwise be able to get here.

I still have the postcard from the performance at the Queen’s official opening of the building.

Seeing Nick Cave perform Cosmic Dancer in Sage Two and shedding a tear.

For me it’s the versatility of the place in how it can stage different performances. A highlight for me is seeing different operas here and how beautifully presented they are.

I saw Father John Misty here with my friends and they were blown away by the building. It’s not just your usual arena.

The first time I saw the orchestra live it was like being on a rollercoaster. I had butterflies - it was amazing.

Hi my name’s Alex and I’ve been coming to Sage Gateshead for 18 years. My first experience was when I was literally a few months old and I’ve been coming pretty much every week since. 

I started off doing baby classes, then went on to actual ensembles, and now this year I’m off to university and I will be studying at Newcastle University. Sage Gateshead will still continue to be a performance place for me and the place that I will always visit, so it has huge, huge sentimental memories and value to me.

So many lush events make me proud to work here - Sam Fender & RNS, Verdi’s Requiem & The People’s Choir, Gateshead Schools Dance Festival and In Harmony.

I’m Sarah Thackray from Beaconhouse Events, and this building to us is incredible for conferences and events. We bring international delegations across and they’re just blown away by the building itself and the location in the centre of Newcastle/Gateshead. It’s stunning and it offers so much inspiration to people who come here. It’s not just another conference hotel, it’s an amazing building with amazing outlooks, so we love it. 

Seeing Zappa Plays Zappa in Sage Two with my mam. I’m a lifelong Zappa fan and it was lovely to share his music, live, and convert her. What a night.

Sage Gateshead is open to all, it’s non-judgemental and there are so many opportunities to learn new things. I’ve made a network of amazing friends, linked by music.

We set up a digital learning platform and ensured continuation of learning for 200 children during lockdown.

I’ve sung here for the last 10 years with Streetwise Opera. I think I have sung in every auditorium in this building. I was very grateful for all the online sessions Sage Gateshead provided during lockdown. It’s really important even now as it gives lots of people access to the building who might not otherwise be able to get here.

I’m Vee Pollock, I’m the Dean of Cultural and Creative Arts at Newcastle University. Sage Gateshead is such a fantastic venue, particularly for encouraging and growing new and emerging talent across generations, and the work it does with all sorts of communities is fantastic.

Hello my name is Feitong and the best thing about Sage Gateshead is its programmes and performances that you can watch. I am associated with Sage Gateshead through the Young Musicians Programme, which helps to develop my confidence and my musical ability.

Hello, I’m Christine Ogg, and this is the place where I had a lightbulb moment; I came to a sharing performance where some people were drumming and I thought, that is what I want to do, and I’ve been doing it ever since. I’ve made many good friends and have had many happy memories doing so, so long live this building.

Opening night was amazing - I remember feeling immensely proud to work here and just being in awe of the building itself and all the activity taking place within it.

I've worked here since I was 17. I have always loved music and Sage Gateshead has inspired me to study music and work in a field that I love.

I saw Rufus Wainwright play his first gig here when Sage Gateshead first opened. He said ‘this is a new concert hall and it’s supposed to have amazing acoustics. Let’s test it.’ He asked the band to stop playing and filled the space with just his voice. It blew the audience away.

I’m Josh. I first came into contact with Sage Gateshead through my grandad bringing me to The Snowman performance here, and from then I played in Sage One, Sage Two, and The Northern Rock venue through various school bands. Being involved in the musical development side, on the odd occasion through different community groups - never once picked up an instrument since leaving school but was involved from a business point of view and it’s been incredible to make friends old and new in this place. Appreciate the acoustics, the infrastructure and dedication of everyone in this place.

The first time I came to Sage Gateshead was the first time I saw an orchestra, and it really inspired me to go see more classical music and more orchestral pieces. It just gave me a huge feeling of butterflies and ever since I’ve been coming back and listening to the orchestra. 

I’m John Shipley and I’ve been coming to classical concerts here since it opened. It’s the most wonderful, relaxing experience to be in Sage One, particularly with the Royal Northern Sinfonia playing. A hugely exciting place to come to, wonderfully welcoming and the highest quality. It was particularly good for me when we ran Open University degree ceremonies (I worked with the OU) and we used to hold them here in the latter days of my time with the university. And it’s a wonderful venue for people. So much space to walk around in, to sit in, to have a coffee – high quality catering – but the most wonderful hall with the most fantastic acoustics. A world-class venue. 

I didn’t listen to classical music at home, but when I come here I love it - it’s just the incredible sound of those instruments all playing together.

I’m so proud to support programmes for young people like In Harmony and the Youth Music Programme.

My name’s Irene Soulsby and a memorable performance here was of The Snowman, with the Northern Sinfonia, and we saw the animated Snowman film and it was so beautiful I cried my eyes out.

I played at the opening event, along with my younger brother, as part of the Gateshead Youth Orchestra. It was a wonderful moment.

BBC 6 Music Festival – transformed the whole building with performances in all the halls plus the concourse.

A participant attended a guitar class of mine, we had worked together for a while. At the start of the group session I asked if he was OK. He explained to the group how he had lost his mother a few days ago. We talked about it and decided to play ‘Isn’t She Lovely’ together. He played a solo on it while tears rolled down his face. After the song he smiled - it was incredible.

My first full-house contemporary gig after the pandemic, and being back to live music, was a collective shared joy.