Ponse was born in Geneva and grew up in France. In 1936, he settled in Amsterdam as a concert pianist and began to develop as a composer. From 1949, he composed music according to the twelve-tone system, freely interpreted. From 1965, he also composed electronic and electronic-instrumental music. Ponse was senior lecturer at the Conservatories of Amsterdam and Rotterdam, and also at the Conservatory of Groningen, where he founded a studio for electronic music. Several of his compositions won awards and he continued to compose music until his death.