Oliver Caplan was raised in the Bronx, New York. He studied Music and Geography at Dartmouth College, graduating with honors in 2004. While a student at Dartmouth – amidst irreverent marching band antics and musical studies abroad in London – he found his calling: musical composition. He studied composition with Charles Dodge, sang in the college Handel Society and served as President of the Marching Band. Mr. Caplan entered the Boston Conservatory's composition program and received his Masters of Music in 2006, graduating with Pi Kappa Lambda honors. At the Conservatory, he studied with composers Dalit Warshaw and Dana Brayton. In summer 2007 and 2008 at the Ecole Normale de Musique de Paris, he participated in the European American Music Alliance. During the program, he took intensive courses in the pedagogic tradition of Nadia Boulanger and studied composition with Robert Beaser of the Julliard School and Michel Merlet of the Paris Conservatory.
 
Mr. Caplan currently resides in Somerville, Massachusetts, where he continues to study with Ms. Warshaw and serves as Director of Communications and Marketing for Juventas New Music Ensemble. An avid hiker, he finds inspiration through his time outdoors. Compositional interests encompass both concert music and collaboration with artists in other media.  Mr. Caplan’s works have been commissioned by the Bronx Arts Ensemble, the Columbia University Wind Ensemble and the Washington & Jefferson College Wind Ensemble.  His music has also been presented by the 11:11 Theatre Company, Juventas New Music Ensemble, dance choreographers Mary Chris DeBelina and Susan Graham, members of the Boston Conservatory Orchestra, and the Dartmouth Chamber Orchestra.   The American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers recognized him in 2008 and 2009 with ASCAPLUS Awards for emerging artists; and in 2009 as a Finalist for the Morton Gould Young Composer Award.