The 32nd Oulu Music Festival will be held from 12 to 27 March 2022.
The festival's series of 26 concerts will open on March 12 with U.S. pianist Mackenzie Melemed, who won the 2017 Maj Lind International Piano Competition on Saturday. The first week will feature a four-concert chamber music series with the theme of America through various lenses this spring. In the same week, the pivotal event of Oulu Music Festival, the screenings of the film Star Wars - A New Hope, which will be co-produced with the Oulu Symphony, will be seen in the Madetoja Hall on Thursday 17 March and on Friday 18 March. The after parties to the Star Wars film concerts will be held at the Music Centre's Restaurant Preludi on Saturday, March 19, featuring timeless film compositions by John Williams familiar from Star Wars films adapted into jazz versions. At RioLive the second artistic director of the festival, Jukka Perko's Early Birds Triowill be heard on Tuesday 15 March. The first week of the festival ends on Sunday, March 20 with Oulu All Star Big Band together with the Swedish Carling Family.
An additional concert Monday 14 March in memory of Jaakko Kuusisto
An additional concert will also be held on Monday, March 14, in memory of Jaakko Kuusisto, the former artistic director of Oulu Music Festival and long-term partner of Oulu Sinfonia, who died in February. Admission to the concert is free.
As the artistic director of Oulu Music Festival, Kuusisto started before the spring 2013 festival, and transferred responsibility to the new artistic directors last spring after nine festivals. With the purposeful and bright grip of Kuusisto, the festival carried out great concerts and ambitious projects year after year, which brought a number of amazingly talented international and domestic artist guests to the audience in Oulu.
OULU MUSIC FESTIVAL 12.–27.3.2022
Sat 12.3.2022 at 19, Opening Concert, RACHMANINOFF AT CARNEGIE HALL 1942, Madetojan sali
Mackenzie Melemed, piano
Info: https://omj.fi/konsertit/avajaiskonsertti-rachmaninoff-at-carnegie-hall-1942/
Tickets: https://www.ticketmaster.fi/event/304765
Sun 13.3.2022 at 17, CELENKA, Teatteri Rio
Eero Grundström, pump organ & vocals | Emmi Kujanpää, vocals & kantele | Jarkko Niemelä, trumpet & vocals
Info: https://omj.fi/konsertit/celenka/
Tickets: https://www.ticketmaster.fi/event/306065
Mon 14.3.2022 at 18, TUHKIMO-Lastenooppera, Valvesali
Tue 15.3.2022 at 10 and 12.30, TUHKIMO-Lastenooppera, Valvesali
Info: https://omj.fi/konsertit/tuhkimo-lastenoppeera/
Tickets: https://www.ticketmaster.fi/event/306089; https://www.ticketmaster.fi/event/306091; https://www.ticketmaster.fi/event/306093
Mon 14.3.2022 at 19, IN MEMORIAM JAAKKO KUUSISTO, Madetojan Sali
Info: https://omj.fi/konsertit/in-memoriam-jaakko-kuusisto/
Tickets: Free entry
Tue 15.3.2022 at 19, JUKKA PERKO EARLY BIRDS Plays Secret Jazz, Teatteri Rio
Jukka Perko, saxophones | Teppo Mäkynen, drums | Eero Seppä, bass
Info: https://omj.fi/konsertit/jukka-perko-early-birds-plays-secret-jazz/
Tickets: https://www.ticketmaster.fi/event/305443
Wed 16.3.2022 at 19, Chamber concert I, SILVER SCREEN SPELL, Tulindbergin sali
Ara Gregorian, violin | Elina Vähälä, violin | Jennifer Stumm, viola | Claudio Bohorquez, cello | Vanessa Cunha, piano | Mika Rännäli, piano
Info: https://omj.fi/konsertit/kamarikonsertti-i-silver-screen-spell/
Tickets: https://www.ticketmaster.fi/event/304767
Thu 17.3.2022 at 19, STAR WARS - A New Hope, Madetojan sali
Fri 18.3.2022 at 19, STAR WARS - A New Hope, Madetojan sali
Oulu Sinfonia | Jaakko Kuusisto, conductor
Info: https://omj.fi/konsertit/star-wars-a-new-hope/
Tickets: https://www.ticketmaster.fi/event/304739; https://www.ticketmaster.fi/event/304749
Fri 18.3.2022 at 17,
FINAL CONCERT OF THE CHAMBER MUSIC MASTER COURSES, Ravintola Preludi
Students of the master courses.
Info: https://omj.fi/konsertit/kamarimusiikin-mestarikurssien-loppukonsertti/
Tickets: Vapaa pääsy
Sat 19.3.2022 at 18, Chamber concert II, IMMIGRANTS, Tulindbergin sali
Michał Konopiński, clarinet | Elina Vähälä, violin | Ara Gregorian, violin | Jennifer Stumm, viola | Emiliano Travasino, viola | Claudio Bohórquez, cello | Mackenzie Melemed, piano
Info: https://omj.fi/konsertit/kamarikonsertti-iiimmigrants/
Tickets: https://www.ticketmaster.fi/event/304773
Sat 19.3.2022 at 20, Chamber concert III, GOD BLESS AMERICA, Madetojan sali
Vanessa Cunha, piano | Mika Rännäli, piano | Oulu Sinfonia chamber musicians| Soma Ensemble | Voces | Raimo Paaso, conductor
Info: https://omj.fi/konsertit/kamarikonsertti-iii-god-bless-america/
Tickets: https://www.ticketmaster.fi/event/304759
Sat 19.3.2022 at 21, TAHTIEN SOTA - Galaksienvälinen jazz-konsertti, Ravintola Preludi
Ville Vannemaa, saxophone and flute | Kasperi Sarikoski, trombone | Tuomas J. Turunen, piano and arrangements | Juho Kivivuori, bass | Anssi Tirkkonen, drums
Info: https://omj.fi/konsertit/tahtien-sota-galaksienvalinen-jazz-konsertti/
Tickets: https://www.ticketmaster.fi/event/306087
Sun 20.3.2022 at 17, Chamber concert IV, I HAVE A DREAM, Karjasillan kirkko
Virpi Räisänen, mezzo soprano | Elina Vähälä, violin | Ara Gregorian, violin | Jennifer Stumm, viola | Claudio Bohorquez, cello | Mackenzie Melemed, piano | Mika Rännäli, piano | Oulu Sinfonia chamber musicians
Info: https://omj.fi/konsertit/kamarikonsertti-iv-i-have-a-dream/
Tickets: https://www.ticketmaster.fi/event/304785
Sun 20.3.2022 at 19, OASBB feat. CARLING FAMILY, Teatteri Rio
Oulu All Star Big Band | Max Carling, clarinet, saxophone, dance | Ulf Carling, vocals, trumpet, drums, dance | Nanna Carling, saxophone, acrobatics | Aina Carling, banjo, vocals
Info: https://omj.fi/konsertit/oasbb-feat-carling-family/
Tickets: https://www.ticketmaster.fi/event/306069
Mon 21.3.2022 at 19, Lenni-Kalle Taipale: VÄREJÄ KOSKETTIMILLA, Teatteri Rio
Lenni-Kalle Taipale, piano
Info: https://omj.fi/konsertit/lenni-kalle-taipale-vareja-koskettimilla-2/
Tickets: https://www.ticketmaster.fi/event/306345
Tue 22.3.2022 at 19, ALICE CARRERI & OLLI ESTOLA QUARTET, Teatteri Rio
Alice Carreri, vocals | Janne Mikkonen, guitar | Jaakko Konttila, double bass | Sami Leponiemi, saxophones | Olli Estola, drums
Info: https://omj.fi/konsertit/alice-carreri-olli-estola-quartet/
Tickets: https://www.ticketmaster.fi/event/306071
Wed 23.3.2022 at 19, JAN LUNDGREN: A Tribute To Jan Johansson, Teatteri Rio
Jan Lundgren, piano | Mattias Svensson, bass | Oulu Sinfonia chamber musicians
Info: https://omj.fi/konsertit/jan-lundgren-a-tribute-to-jan-johansson/
Tickets: https://www.ticketmaster.fi/event/306075
Thu 24.3.2022 at 18, ELLA JA KAVERIT KONSERTISSA, Madetojan sali
Lotta Kuusisto, Ella | Paavo Kerosuo, Teacher | Timo Parvela, Narrator | Maria Itkonen, conductor | Oulu Sinfonia
Info: https://omj.fi/konsertit/ella-ja-kaverit-konsertissa/
Tickets: https://www.ticketmaster.fi/event/304743
Thu 24.3.2022 at 20, AKI RISSANEN TRIO, Teatteri Rio
Aki Rissanen, piano | Antti Lötjönen, bass | Teppo Mäkynen, drums
Info: https://omj.fi/konsertit/aki-rissanen-trio/
Tickets: https://www.ticketmaster.fi/event/306077
Fri 25.3.2022 at 10, ELLA JA KAVERIT KONSERTISSA – School concert, Madetojan sali
Lotta Kuusisto, Ella | Paavo Kerosuo, Teacher | Timo Parvela, Narrator | Maria Itkonen, conductor | Oulu Sinfonia
Info: https://omj.fi/konsertit/ella-ja-kaverit-konsertissa-koululaiskonsertti/
Tickets: info@omj.fi
Fri 25.3.2022 at 18, FINAL CONCERT OF RHYTHM MUSIC MASTER COURSES, Teatteri Rio
Students of the master courses.
Info: https://omj.fi/konsertit/rytmimusiikin-mestarikurssien-loppukonsertti/
Tickets: Vapaa pääsy
Fri 25.3.2022 at 20, Lenni-Kalle Taipale & Kalle Torniainen: ELÄMÄMME BIISIT, Teatteri Rio
Maja Mannila, vocals | Ilmo Ylinärä, vocals | Jukka Perko, saxophone | Kalle Torniainen, drums | Lenni-Kalle Taipale, keys | Heikki Laine, bass
Info: https://omj.fi/konsertit/lenni-kalle-taipale-kalle-torniainen-elamamme-biisit/
Tickets: https://www.ticketmaster.fi/event/306079
Sat 26.3.2022 at 19, LINDA FREDRIKSSON JUNIPER, Teatteri Rio
Linda Fredriksson, saxophones | Tuomo Prättälä, keys | Mikael Saastamoinen, bass | Olavi Louhivuori, drums
Info: https://omj.fi/konsertit/linda-fredriksson-juniper/
Tickets: https://www.ticketmaster.fi/event/306081
Sun 27.3.2022 at 19, PEELA, Teatteri Rio
Johannes Granroth, guitar | Maja Mannila, vocals/keys | Sami Leponiemi, saxophone | Oliver Karttunen, bass | Mikko Antila, percussion | Severi Sorjonen, drums
Info: https://omj.fi/konsertit/peela/
Tickets: https://www.ticketmaster.fi/event/306085