Thursday’s poll results showed a disappointing response from Messenger readers. The largest response, by a significant number, indicated they didn’t have an interest in attending the free concert sponsored earlier this week by the Johnson Center for the Arts.

The “New Harmonies Concert” featured some talented jazz musicians, including a relative of the late, great Duke Ellington.

And the crowd that gathered this week was treated to a fantastic concert, right here in downtown Troy.

We think the folks who responded to our poll may have missed out, and that’s a shame.

The Johnson Center for the Arts and the Troy-Pike Cultural Arts Center, along with such active organizations as the Troy Arts Council, work extremely hard to bring world-class arts and entertainment to our community. From the Andy Warhol exhibit to the Glen Miller Orchestra, residents here have the opportunity to expand their horizons and broaden their knowledge. We have the chance to listen to jazz concerts; to experience folk art and pop art alike, to decide what we like.

More important, we have the chance to expose our children and youngsters to a wide variety of arts – visual, musical, and more – to see what might strike a chord in them. We owe it to our children to take full advantage of these exhibits and opportunities, and to experiences the fullness of culture offered by the Johnson Center, the Troy Arts Council, the Studio, and all the organizations working to enrich, nurture and develop the arts in our community.