Guitar

The smallest of angels sang with exuberance Tuesday as they joined classmates in St. Robert- Bellarmine Catholic School's kindergarten production of "Once Upon a Christmas." With accompaniment from the piano and guitar, Debbie Mariscal's kindergartners performed "The Twelve Days of Christmas," followed by "We Wish You a Merry Christmas." Wyomi Fernando's class reenacted the oft-told story of the first Christmas. Christian Irwin, resplendent in a turquoise kimono and gold crown, was one of the three wise men. "It was fun to be in because I got to sing," Christian said.

TODAY The Burbank Art Assn. presents Randall Williams giving a painting demonstration at 7 p.m. at the Burbank City Hall Annex, Room 102, 301 E. Olive Ave., Burbank. Williams will paint while a friend of his plays classical guitar in the background. Cost of attendance for nonmembers is $3. For more information, call Joan Sandon at (818) 848-1054. THURSDAY The Beyond 50 Book Club meets from 2 to 3 p.m. at Barnes & Noble, 731 N. San Fernando Blvd.

Paul Andersen, Enjoy! BURBANK -- When Andy Susemihl moved to Southern California from his native Germany seven years ago, it was because he was looking to change his life. As a guitarist, he had played throughout Europe with a number of heavy metal rock bands, including Sinner and U.D.O., touring with the likes of Ozzy Osbourne and others. "I wasn't really sure what I was looking for," the 31-year-old Tujunga musician said, the edges of his words still inflected with the remnants of an accent.

The following information was taken from police reports: TOLUCA LAKE 4100 block of Warner Boulevard: A 49-year-old Glendale man reported to police Friday that $568 had been taken from him. MEDIA DISTRICT NORTH 2300 block of Niagara Street: An 18-year-old Burbank man was arrested Saturday on suspicion of unlawful possession of cocaine. A 20-year-old North Hollywood man was arrested on suspicion of providing false information to police. HILLSIDE DISTRICT 1000 block of east Santa Anita Avenue: An 18-year-old Seal Beach woman reported to police Saturday that her car had been broken into and a stereo, speakers, a guitar and cash with a combined value of $5,000 had been taken.

Nareg Amirian, son of Bobken and Hasmik Amirian of Glendale, recently earned the rank of Eagle Scout. He is a member of the Verdugo Hills Council Boy Scouts of America. For his Eagle Scout project, Amirian built a playground set at a local elementary school and reorganized the library. Amirian is a senior at Providence High School in Burbank. He is a varsity cross-country runner, a three-time Los Angeles Marathon runner and a pianist. Amirian plans to attend USC or Stanford University.

Mid-20th century Los Angeles country music performers were such a wildly colorful community that they made their competitors in Nashville seem more like undertakers than entertainers. One of the most dazzling acts were the Collins Kids, who will make their first Los Angeles-area appearance in 19 years on Dec. 3 at Joe's Great American Bar & Grill in Burbank. The duo, consisting of siblings Larry and Lorrie Collins, broke into local prominence on the popular KTTV television show “Town Hall Party” at ages 10 and 12, respectively, trading in some of the hottest, flat-out explosive rockabilly and boogie of the era. Within a few short years, they were a nationally known force, traveling to New York for guest shots on NBC's “The Steve Allen Show” and playing at Madison Square Garden.

OLIVE PARK — For most of the Hap Minor Baseball season, players were mainly concerned with team-orientated goals, like winning divisional titles. But at the 54rd annual Burbank Civitan Club Baseball Jamboree, it was a time for individual accomplishments in the Burbank Park, Recreation and Community Services event Saturday at Olive Park. The day of events marked the end of the season for the city's premiere baseball league. Nearly 500 players from 41 teams took part.

Dick Dodd is one of the most persuasive and recognizable voices in the classic American rock 'n' roll pantheon. Lead singer and drummer of mid-'60s Hollywood rockers the Standells, his declarative, sneering vocals on big-beat staples “Dirty Water,” “Sometimes Good Guys Don't Wear White” and “Riot on the Sunset Strip” established an electrifying new type of hard modern rock. When Dodd takes the stage at Burbank's Joe's Great American Bar on Sunday night, he'll not only bring all of that momentous rebel spirit, but also an impressive trove of show business experience that he'd accrued even before joining the Standells at age 18. The lifelong Redondo Beach resident was a child prodigy whose talents as a dancer and singer landed him in Burbank in mid-1955 as one of the original Mickey Mouse Club's Mouseketeers.

When he is not busy teaching, Justin Riner spends his time pursuing his passion for music — a passion he pursues not only on stage, but with the students in his classroom. The 25--year-old eighth-grade English teacher at John Muir Middle School has been playing with his band, Loverlee, an indie pop band, for nearly a year. What sets Riner's band apart is the untraditional sounds the group uses during performances, he said. "We use diverse instruments," he said. "The music is upbeat and fun and the instruments keep the sound fresh."

Paul Andersen, People BURBANK -- Some people wander through life never really finding out their purpose. But a rare few are extremely lucky. They know early on what they want to do, and they go after it with a laser-like focus. Burbank singer/songwriter Judy Krueger is among those lucky few. "I've been singing all my life," she said matter-of-factly, as if it was something everyone normally did. "I first picked up a microphone at a church function at the age of 3, and got the bug in an instant.