Musical America Names Audra McDonald Musician of the Year The soprano and actress Audra McDonald, though better known for her theater and jazz performances than for her classical work these days, has been named musician of the year by Musical America, a classical music journal that was founded as a weekly newspaper in 1898 and now publishes an online magazine and an annual directory (in print and online) that lists performers, ensembles, music schools and management companies. The British composer George Benjamin, whose 2012 opera, "Written in Skin," had its American premiere at the Tanglewood Festival of Contemporary Music this summer, won the composer of the year award. The 35-year-old Spanish conductor Pablo Heras-Casado, who makes his Metropolitan Opera debut conducting "Rigoletto" on Nov. 11, was named conductor of the year; Jeremy Denk, the pianist and sometime author, won for instrumentalist of the year; and the International Contemporary Ensemble (known as ICE) won for ensemble of the year. Two winners, Mr. Denk and Claire Chase, the founder of ICE, also recently won MacArthur Fellowships. The awards, which the publication has given since 1960, will be presented at a ceremony at Lincoln Center on Dec. 17.