Melissa "Misi" Musulin's talents ranged from being an accomplished musician to a French-trained pastry chef.

The Richmond resident toured throughout Europe for 10 years as a solo horn player for the Basque National Orchestra in San Sebastian, Spain, and was principal horn player with the Richmond Philharmonic Orchestra.

Mrs. Musulin, who was of Serbian heritage, also graduated from the Le Cordon Bleu in Paris and was a former pastry chef for several area restaurants.

On many occasions, she combined those two loves, making pastries or desserts to take to rehearsals of the Richmond Philharmonic, said her husband, Frederick S. Kaufman of Richmond.

Mrs. Musulin, who also played with the Williamsburg Sinfonia and was a substitute player with the Richmond Symphony, died of cancer Saturday at a Richmond hospital. She was 50.

She began playing an instrument in elementary school, working her way through the alto saxophone and trumpet before making the French horn her instrument of choice, said her sister, Anne Musulin of Richmond.

After graduating high school at age 16, Mrs. Musulin received her bachelor's from the Oberlin Conservatory of Music and her master's from the Cincinnati Conservatory of Music.

Mrs. Musulin decided she wanted to play in Europe, so she moved there and rented a car to travel to auditions. Initially, she spoke no Spanish, but after 10 years with the Basque National Orchestra, she returned to America fluent in the language, her sister said.

With a wealth of knowledge about music, Mrs. Musulin was an asset to other horn players in the Richmond Philharmonic.

"She was very passionate about music," said Mary Beth Hall, co-principal horn player with the philharmonic. "She could help me if I didn't know a piece."

Described as a kind and loving person, Mrs. Musulin was active in her daughters' lives as well. She was a class mother for her oldest and always helped them with their homework before going to evening rehearsals, her husband said.

In addition to her husband and sister, Mrs. Musulin's survivors include two daughters, Mikaela Kaufman and Cristina Kaufman; a stepdaughter, Erika Kaufman; and her parents, Dr. Michael Musulin and Mary Musulin, all of Richmond.

A funeral will be held Wednesday at 2 p.m. at Sts. Constantine and Helen Greek Orthodox Cathedral, 30 Malvern Ave. in Richmond. Burial will follow at Westhampton Memorial Park in Henrico County.