Nicholas Boland holds a Master of Music in composition from the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, and a Bachelor of Music in oboe performance from the University of Southern Maine. His primary teachers include Conrad Susa and Daniel Sonenberg, composition, and William Bennett and Neil Boyer, oboe.

He was a composition fellow at the Brevard Music Center and Summer in Sombor music festivals, and has had works performed by groups including the International Orange Chorale, the 191st Army Band, the Portland Youth Orchestra, and the Season String Quartet of Serbia.

As an oboist he has performed with such groups as the Portland Symphony Orchestra, the Maine State Ballet Orchestra, and is currently principal oboe of the Bay Area Rainbow Symphony and the 191st Army Band.