Be You. Be a Sound Partner.

 

 

Xiang Jue

Executive Director

Shanghai ACE Sound Reinforcement Engineering Co. Ltd.

 

Mr Xiang has long understood the value of a good education. This was further reinforced while on an overseas study tour in the US. "We visited renowned institutions like Stanford, Notre Dame, UPenn, Wellesley, MIT and Emerson College. Their facilities, theatres and stadiums left an indelible impression," he recalls. "Equipping schools with cutting-edge technology is essential to keeping teaching current and broadening children's horizons from the earliest age." This was the spirit in which he would eventually collaborate with Wellington.

In its early years, Wellington College China strived for industry-leading facilities to support its arts-focused curriculum. One niche requiring enhancement was acoustics. Our facilities team was exploring options when Mr Xiang offered to upgrade our sound systems pro bono. He was particularly impressed by our teachers. "Their understanding of sound and equipment rivalled that of our seasoned experts. It is only in the hands of such skilled connoisseurs that top-tier facilities can be truly appreciated and utilised."

Suffice it to say, it was the beginning of a beautiful friendship, and in the ensuing years, Mr Xiang has worked closely with pupils and teachers at Wellington College China schools, even visiting and joining classes. He has grown with us, developing theatrical sound systems at our Shanghai, Hangzhou and Nantong campuses along the way.

But Mr Xiang has made a difference beyond our schools too. In the 1990s, China's technological landscape lagged behind international standards. The country relied heavily on imported goods. Mr Xiang, however, saw an opportunity. With support from the Shanghai government, he started Shanghai ACE Sound Reinforcement Technology Engineering. Within just a few years, the company hit its stride. Its innovations have since made a major contribution to China’s audio engineering industry. 

"Innovation and quality are crucial for a company's growth," he muses. "It doesn't always have to be disruptive. It can also be incremental advancements, building upon past successes." This philosophy has been the driving force behind his team. It has paid off. His company’s commitment to excellence earned it the Shanghai Magnolia Award and the China Construction Engineering Luban Prize. ACE products have gained national recognition, and last year they even entered the global market.

As the world grows more intertwined, Mr Xiang recognises that cooperation and competition need not be at odds with each other. A sentiment that resoundingly echoes what we teach our children about being bridge builders at our schools.

"The paramount duty of an entrepreneur extends beyond commerce; it encompasses social responsibility too," he insists, which is why Mr Xiang devotes so much time and energy to philanthropic causes.

Not surprisingly, several of his projects are linked to education. Notably, he helped a struggling arts university in Shanghai with theatre renovations. He forged partnerships and negotiated with suppliers to secure donations of state-of-the-art audio equipment, which under normal circumstances would have exceeded the school’s budget.

"We wanted to get these students up to speed on international technology," he explains. "By mastering these tools in university, they would then become assets to any organisation that hired them."

Mr Xiang and his team have since maintained a keen focus on the education sector. ACE continues to make substantial donations of audio equipment to several schools in and around Shanghai, always in the spirit of elevating others. "When it comes to donations, we don't pinch pennies; we consider the genuine needs of the schools and the societal benefits that education gives us all," he explains.