George Edwards (1943-2011) was an influential American composer and music educator, known for his long tenure at Columbia University, where he served as the Edward MacDowell Emeritus Professor of Music. Born in Wellesley, Massachusetts, Edwards pursued his undergraduate studies at Oberlin College, studying under Richard Hoffman, and graduated in 1965. He furthered his education at Princeton University, earning an MFA while studying with notable figures such as Milton Babbitt, Edward T. Cone, and Earl Kim.

Edwards began his teaching career at the New England Conservatory in Boston in 1969. His compositional talents were recognized with the Rome Prize in Composition in 1975. In 1977, he joined Columbia University as an Assistant Professor of Music, eventually earning tenure in 1987 and leading the composition program until 1995. His contributions to the university included serving as Chair of the Department of Music from 1996 to 1999 and as Secretary of the Advisory Committee of the Alice M. Ditson Fund from 1988 to 2005.

As a composer, Edwards was noted for his contrapuntal style, influenced by twelve-tone composers, and his music's lyrical intensity and harmonic richness, reminiscent of the late Romantic Austro-German repertoire. His works are celebrated for their modernist rigor and contrapuntal mastery, reflecting his unique compositional voice. Edwards was a Guggenheim Fellow in 1980 and 1986 and retired from Columbia in 2006. His legacy is preserved in recordings and writings, including his Collected Essays on Modern and Classical Music. Edwards' final years were marked by his battle with Alzheimer's Disease, and he is remembered for his profound impact on students and colleagues alike.