George K. Evans

George K. Evans (born 1917) was an American music educator, choral director, church musician, organist, translator, and annotator. He studied at Rice University, earning a bachelor's degree, continued at the University of Texas for a master's degree, and completed doctoral study at George Peabody College for Teachers. His professional work included music supervision and choral direction in schools and colleges as well as service in churches as a minister of music, choir director, and organist.

Evans is best remembered in hymnological circles for The International Book of Christmas Carols, first published in 1963. Walter Ehret served as music editor and arranger, while Evans supplied English translations and explanatory notes for carols drawn from many countries and languages. The collection helped bring a wide international Christmas repertory into English-speaking schools, choirs, and churches, and a revised edition appeared in 1980.

Among the carols associated with Evans is the English form of the Puerto Rican Epiphany song beginning “De tierra lejana venimos a verte.” His work on such pieces was principally translational and educational: he did not create the traditional melodies or the older source texts, but helped make them accessible to English-speaking singers through carefully prepared editions.