The 20th Oulu Music Festival was organized in March 2010, and included 32 concerts altogether. The program was divided in two parts, one of them being “JAZZhouse”, a co-production of Oulu Music Festival and EU-project Music On Top.
One of the highlights of JAZZhouse was the opening concert “Charlie Parker with Strings”, with saxophonist Jukka Perko performing together with Oulu Symphony Orchestra. In addition to jazz concerts, the diverse festival program included chamber music, symphony concerts and church concerts as well as a children’s concert.
Jazzin täyteisen viikon lopun jälkeen festivaalin ohjelmaan kuului muun muassa Oulu Sinfonian America! America! America! -konsertti, jossa puhesolistina esiintyi Yhdysvaltain suurlähettiläs Bruce Oreck ja pianosolistina Iiro Rantala. Kamariyhtye Avanti! tulkitsi konserteissaan suomalaista tangoa sekä uutta kotimaista kamarimusiikkia.