Carl Friedrich Zelter (1758 - 1832) was a German composer.

He was born in Berlin, and trained to become a mason like his father, but his musical talent showed through. He studied composition under Carl Fasch , joining the Singakademie in 1791. When Fasch died in 1800, Zelter became director. He also started an orchestra to accompany the Singakademie, called the Ripienschule (1808). The following year, he became a faculty member of the Royal Academy of the Arts in Berlin and also founded the Liedertafel, for which he wrote choral music. In 1822 he founded the Royal Institute for Church Music.

Zelter becamse friendly with Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, and his works include settings of Goethe's poems. During his career, he composed about two hundred lieder, as well as cantatas, a viola concerto and piano music.