Dr. Heidi T. Riccio, Superintendent
565 Maple Street
Hathorne, MA 01937
For Immediate Release
Friday, Aug. 23, 2019
Contact: Kelsey Bode
Phone: 617-993-0003
Email: kelsey@jgpr.net
Essex Tech Expands Industry and Community Enrichment Adult Education Classes
DANVERS — Want to learn something new? How about songwriting? Maybe learn the art and science of jewelry-making? Perhaps you have the eye to be a professional photographer?
Superintendent Heidi Riccio is pleased to announce that Essex Tech has expanded its NightHawks Adult Education Program offerings to include fun, exciting and new industry training and community enrichment course options.
In addition to industry training courses including Advanced Manufacturing, Electrical-Journeyman Introduction and Plumbing Tier 1, this fall the Essex Tech NightHawks program is also launching a series of community enrichment courses, which include:
Digital Photography
The Digital Photography Course will be held Tuesdays from Sept. 17-Oct. 15 from 5:30-8 p.m. Students in the course will learn how to photograph in the manual mode while using a Digital SLR Camera. The course will include demonstrations of camera functions, creative processes, photo assignments and instruction to help students cultivate their photography skills. Registration for the course is $150.
The Digital Photography Course is being taught by Michael Chiusano, who has experience in commercial and advertising photography, working with clients including Ocean Spray Cranberries as well as high tech, biomedicine and general industry groups. After a career in photography that spanned three decades, he put away his studio lights and began teaching photography at career schools and during adult courses at night. He continues to work as a professional photographer, but also works on personal projects. Chiusano is also the author of the book, “Main Street USA: A Photographic Journey to Forgotten America.”
Harvest Beers of the North Shore
The Harvest Beers of the North Shore Course will be held on Thursday, Oct. 10 from 6-8 p.m. Students in the course will learn the primary types of beer styles and what differentiates them. The course will also include beer tasting, tips for performing a sensory evaluation of beer and will review food pairings, which will be prepared by culinary students. Participants must be 21-years-old or older, and will be required to bring an ID to the session. Registration for the course is $30.
Holiday Wine Tasting
The Holiday Wine Tasting Course will be held on Thursday, Nov. 7, from 6-8 p.m. During the class, students will learn technical wine tasting, common terms, food pairings and fundamentals of wine. Food pairings will be prepared for the class by culinary students. Participants must be 21-years-old or older, and will be required to bring an ID to the session. Registration for the course is $30.
Jewelry and Metalsmithing: Bracelet Cuff Workshop
The Jewelry and Metalsmithing: Bracelet Cuff Workshop will be held on Saturday, Sept. 21 from 10-12:30 p.m. During the workshop, students will design and hand fabricate unique jewelry pieces utilizing traditional metalsmithing techniques. Students will learn how to form sterling silver, brass and aluminum sheet into cuff bracelets, and will apply decorative surface embellishments by roller printing, hammering, symbol and letter stamping. The workshop will also offer students the option to add freshwater pearls, crystals and beads to their designs. Tools and materials will be provided. Registration for the workshop is $90.
The workshop will be taught by Stephanie Leary, who holds a bachelor’s in Jewelry Design and Metalsmithing from the Rochester Institute of Technology’s School of American Crafts. After graduating, she apprenticed under several acclaimed jewelry designers and metalsmiths, and has since exhibited and sold her jewelry through her own studio and gallery as well as other New England galleries.
Jewelry and Metalsmithing: Pendant Workshop
The Jewelry and Metalsmithing: Pendant Workshop will take place on Saturday, Oct. 5, from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. During the workshop, students will design and hand fabricate pendants using traditional metalsmithing techniques. Students in the workshop will use dapping, disc cutting, filing and sanding techniques to form sterling silver, copper, brass or aluminum sheets into pendants. Students will also have an opportunity to include freshwater pearls, crystals and beads in their designs. Tools and Materials will be provided. Registration for the workshop is $90.
The pendant workshop will also be taught by Stephanie Leary.
Songwriting
The Songwriting Course will be held on Saturdays from Sept. 7-Oct. 12 from 3-4 p.m., and is open to adult pianists and guitarists. The course will include melody, harmony, rhythm, phrasing, song form, lyrics and exercises in creative writing. Limited guitar and piano instruction is available if needed, but students are asked to have some experience with either piano or guitar. Each student will be tasked with finishing a song by the end of the session, and collaboration is optional. Registration for the course is $125.
The Songwriting Course will be taught by Erinn Brown, an accomplished local singer and songwriter, pianist and guitarist. Brown has three albums of original music, and is a graduate of Berklee College of Music.
To sign up for any of the above courses or learn more about Essex Tech’s adult course offerings, click here.
The NightHawks Program was launched in September 2018 and is part of an overarching initiative at Essex Tech to provide more training opportunities to North Shore teens and adults looking to pursue technical careers or those seeking to improve their craftsmanship skills, support creative talents or cultivate new hobbies.
“We’re thrilled to be able to offer classes to train adults in these in-demand fields, and also to offer courses in subject areas that will support recreational and creative interests as well,” Superintendent Riccio said. “We want to offer a diverse course selection that not only provides workers with the skills they need to succeed in their careers, but also classes that support artistic and cultural pursuits as well.”
New industry training courses, including courses for aspiring and mid-career electricians, plumbers, welders and machinists, reflect modern industry needs in fields with gainful, career-oriented jobs open now. Employers have reported to Essex Tech that they are in need for skilled workers in these fields and others.
To read more about the new industry and trade training courses being offered at Essex Tech’s NightHawks Adult Education Program, click here.
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