Happy New Year, dear reader. My wish for you is that 2013 will bring to you and yours bountiful opportunities to enjoy the musical, theatrical and artistic riches available to us here in the midstate.

I hope, too, that the organizations and institutions that bring these riches to us will endeavor to broaden the audiences for these cultural opportunities -- thought to be an essential part of an abundant life.

Too many members of our community are missing out. Whose fault is this? It doesn’t matter: The responsibility to embrace a broader portion of the community falls upon all who realize the value of these opportunities.

Certainly our educators could play a large role in the expansion. Here’s just one small example: The Douglass Theatre frequently airs high-definition broadcasts from Great Britain’s National Theatre. To its credit, it is the only facility in Georgia to do so. What an opportunity these shows are for high school and college students studying literature and theater. Are we taking advantage of this resource? Alas, only to a small degree. How very sad.

Finally, let us hope that the combined Macon/Bibb County government will see the economic value in trumpeting our community’s cultural and artistic resources to the world beyond the midstate. Why do we persist in keeping our light under the proverbial bushel?

Musical month

While our opportunities for live theater will be sparse in January, an abundance of music is going to more than fill the void.

A production of Gilbert and Sullivan’s opera “Iolanthe” for three performances will begin Jan. 17. Stage director Martha Malone calls this show “fairy tale meets political satire.”

Another major event coming to us is the 10th annual International Conductor’s Workshop and Competition, drawing 13 conductors from far and wide and directed by Maestro Adrian Gnam, conductor emeritus of the Macon Symphony Orchestra.

Some of the midstate’s favorite musicians also will be in concert this month. Coming Jan. 11 is the Cortona Trio, featuring Mercer’s Amy Schwartz Moretti, Julie Albers and Elizabeth Pridgen, all affiliated with the Townsend School of Music and McDuffie Center for Strings.

Contact Larry Fennelly at LarryFennelly@AvantGuild.com