McDonald (Porgy and Bess, Ragtime, Master Class) will receive the honor alongside Jeremy Denk, who was named Instrumentalist of the Year. They will be joined by Composer of the Year George Benjamin, Conductor of the Year Pablo Heras-Casado and Ensemble of the Year International Contemporary Ensemble.

McDonald is currently performing her concert evening Go Back Home across the U.S. She will play Mother Abbess in the live NBC television presentation of The Sound of Music in December.

McDonald earned Tony Awards for her work in The Gershwins' Porgy and Bess, Carousel, Master Class, Ragtime and A Raisin in the Sun. Her work on stage also includes Rise and Fall of the City of Mahagonny with Patti LuPone, as well as Tony-nominated performances in 110 in the Shade and Marie Christine. On screen she has appeared in the television adaptations of "A Raisin in the Sun," "Wit" and "Annie." She is known to television audiences for "Private Practice" and "Grey's Anatomy."

Her solo releases include "Go Back Home" (2013), "Way Back to Paradise" (1998), "How Glory Goes" (2000), "Happy Songs" (2002) and "Build a Bridge" (2006).