He began playing the instrument in various wind orchestras in Daugavpils, later studying at the Jāzeps Vītols Latvian Academy of Music (JVLMA), from which he graduated in 1971. He furthered his professional skills between 1972 and 1975 through an assistantship at the Moscow State Conservatory. Even during his studies, he began his career as a professional musician, working as Principal Trombone of the Latvian National Opera Orchestra.
From 1980, he was a lecturer at JVLMA, becoming a professor in 2002, and from 1988 he also taught at the Emīls Dārziņš Music School. Over the course of his teaching career, Voļaks trained nearly all of the Latvian trombonists who are active musicians today.
Voļaks took a scientific approach to studying the breathing physiology of wind instrumentalists, developing what was practically a new concept of breathing technique. He devoted considerable effort to producing materials on trombone pedagogy.
He was also active in working with young people – in 1997 Voļaks founded the Pārdaugava Music and Art School Symphony Orchestra, and in 1999 the Riga Youth Brass Band. For many years, Voļaks served as the leader and conductor of these ensembles, personally arranging and orchestrating all the music for the youth ensembles.
Alongside his achievements in music, Boļeslavs Voļaks was an international chess master, and he was also interested in table tennis and other sports.
