 He studied at the Royal Academy of Music and returned to St. Stephen's as tenor soloist.He sang in variety at the Royal Aquarium theatre for six months while working as a builder.Pounds joined the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company in 1881 in the chorus of the original production of Gilbert and Sullivan's "Patience", understudying the company's principal tenor, Durward Lely, for whom he went on in November 1881 at the new Savoy Theatre.