Paul Critser (1955–2022) was a commercial musician from South Dakota who, after receiving degrees from the Cleveland Institute of Music and Carnegie-Mellon Univeristy, settled in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA where he would spend the rest of his life as a cellist, conductor, composer, arranger, and music teacher.

In addition to composing, Critser was the longest-serving music director of the Tuesday Musical Club string ensemble in Pittsburgh, played cello with the Pittsburgh Ballet, Pittsburgh Opera, and Wheeling Symphony, was an editor for the Internet Cello Society, and was a music educator who taught privately and founded the Eastern Pittsburgh Youth Orchestra.