IN Canon-Mac Spring 2016 | Page 16

INPERSON AESTHETIC ARTIST South Hills resident Ron Uchal adds Katerina Musetti’s handcrafted, glamorous and colorful creations to his private collection. Katerina Musetti with Nowl Campagna BY NICOLE TAFE C ustomers who have purchased Katerina Musetti’s uniquely bold, dramatic and dazzling handcrafted jewelry are singing her praises. Musetti’s jewelry line attracts clients who not only regard opera and its grandeur costumes, but also those who love and appreciate the pieces as dynamic works of art. In fact, many of Musetti’s pieces are simply collected for their beauty. South Hills resident Ron Uchal is one of Musetti’s many collectors. “Collecting this jewelry is part of my private collection,” says Uchal. “I have, and continue to receive requests from photographers and models to either include this jewelry in photo shoots, or (to use) for photos for their portfolios.” Uchal, an avid collector of Juliana style jewelry, adds that Musetti’s creations are “as exquisite on the front of the design as on the back.” To the collector, the combinations of color and texture as well as the intuitiveness in functionality of design instill a life force in the jewelry, a feeling of aliveness which has led Uchal to name all of the pieces he owns. Musetti, the renowned opera-star-turned-contemporary-jewelrydesigner, is the owner and creator of Katerina Musetti Designs, a jewelry line inspired and influenced by her years singing opera around the world. “Being ever present in stage, theater and performance inspires me to create drama and theater through design,” she says. Musetti’s jewelry has been exhibited at the Museum of Arts and Design (MAD) in New York, and has accessorized models, professional stylists, brides, pageant contestants, actresses and performance artists. Some of her clients simply enjoy wearing the pieces to pool tournaments, the theater or weddings. “Though the pieces are flamboyantly opulent, they are collected and worn by a broad range of individuals,” says Musetti. As an opera singer, Musetti lived in Milan for eight years and performed all over Europe. She trained and performed as a Verdi soprano, singing the composer’s leading ladies in many operas including “Aida,” “La forza del Destino,” “Un ballo in maschera,” “Il trovatore” and “Don Carlo.” Musetti studied with legendary opera singer Renata Tebaldi and 14 724.942.0940 TO ADVERTISE | Canon-Mac still performs today, with current engagements in Chicago, Illinois, and Austin, Texas. In addition to performance, Musetti also works as a vocal technician, training singers who are in productions throughout the United States and worldwide in opera, musical theater and Christian contemporary music. Working from her studio in Greensburg, Musetti personally crafts each piece from beginning to end. “My clients appreciate knowing that they are acquiring something that has been completely handcrafted by the designer,” she explains. She is often asked where the inspiration for her designs comes from and many are surprised by her response: “I wake up with everything in my head, bringing my des