Music in oakridge

An Evening of Romantic Music for Valentine’s Day

Saturday 14^th February 2026, 5 pm – 7 pm

We are delighted to present renowned pianist William Howard who will perform in our beautiful village church. Doors open at 5 pm for a complimentary glass of wine or a soft drink, with the performance starting at 5:30 pm.

We expect the performance to end at approximately 6:30 pm, and we invite you to stay for a post-performance drink from our donation bar (cash only on the night). Doors will close shortly after 7 pm.

The programme will include arrangements by Liszt of songs by Schubert, Mendelssohn and Schumann, Granados’s haunting ‘the Maiden and the Nightingale’ and other pieces from William’s two albums of love songs for solo piano, which have had over 20 million streams on various platforms. The recital will end with Chopin’s First Ballade, one of the most passionate and dramatic works of the romantic piano repertoire.

William Howard, who moved to Oakridge five years ago, is one of Britain’s leading classical pianists, enjoying a career that has taken him to over 40 different countries. He performs regularly at major venues and festivals in the UK and can be heard frequently on BBC Radio 3 and Classic FM. In 1983 he founded the Schubert Ensemble, with which he performed for the full 35 years of the Ensemble’s existence. He has recorded over 40 albums for different labels and has premiered over 100 new works by leading composers from the UK and abroad.

We are very lucky to live in a wonderful, vibrant village with an active community that takes leisure time seriously. This is a special place with a rich history, landscape, and ecology - an environment that encourages creativity.

Music in Oakridge has two purposes, which are very much aligned...

The first is to bring some amazing musical talent to the heart of our rural community and celebrate this in the beautiful setting of our village church of St Bartholomew. The inaugural concert was in November 2024. We will light the church with candles for a truly atmospheric and uplifting experience, celebrating the beauty of the music and the building.

The Venue

Finding us: St Bartholomews Church, Oakridge Lynch GL6 7NS What Three Words: ///shapes.beads.divide.

Parking: If you are coming by car, please note that parking is restricted close to the church. Please do not park on or around the village green, as this needs to be kept clear for emergency vehicles. The best places to park are along the wider roads, a little from the church, or at the Butchers Arms pub, a short walk from the venue. Please park considerately and avoid the soft roadside verges, which are very prone to damage. You may wish to bring a torch as the village has no street lighting.

Accessibility: We can reserve a few parking spaces in the church car park for people with mobility difficulties. This will allow you to park and access the church via a level path. However, the venue is an unadapted historic building. Please inform us if you have special requirements so that we can ensure your visit is as comfortable as possible.

Facilities: A wheelchair accessible WC is available on site

Dinner: Why not book a table at our local pub – The Butchers Arms, for a post-performance dinner? A reservation can be made via their web site or call 01452 225603.

Please get in touch with us if you have any questions.