George Rudolph Cavender Jr. (/ˈkæ.vɛn.dər/ October 10, 1919 – March 2, 2004) was an American music educator and director best known for his association with the University of Michigan, where he led the university's bands, including the Michigan Marching Band, from 1952 until 1978, first as Assistant Director and then as Director. During those twenty-six years, Cavender worked closely with William Revelli to develop the Michigan Band into a globally recognized performance group.