The tradition of music in San Vicente del Raspeig dates back to the 19th century, specifically to 10 February 1872 with the creation of the Sociedad Filarmónica de San Vicente; a date which precedes the current name of the Association: the Sociedad Musical “La Esperanza".

It has had many distinguished conductors since its first, Andrés Molina “Andreuet”. These include Juan Miralles, the composer of the “Himno de San Vicente”, José Torregrosa, Luis Torregrosa, and Francisco Amat with whom they won important prizes.

In November 2008 the Association welcomed its current director, JOSE ANTONIO ANTOLÍN POLO, who was born in Sax.

With determination and professionalism, he has managed to take the Band’s 68 musicians back to the contest circuit where they have won many major awards, including:

• - 2012: First Prize and Honorable Mention in Division Three of the Certamen Provincial Alicante, held on 24 March in Benejúzar.
• - 2012: First Prize and Honorable Mention in Division Three of the Certamen de la Comunidad, held on 20 October in Cheste.
• - 2013: Second Prize in Division Three of the Certamen Nacional Ciudad de Murcia, held on 10 November in Murcia.
• - 2014: Third Prize in the Certamen Internacional Ciudad de Valencia, held on 18 July in the Palau de la Música in Valencia.
• - 2016: Second Prize in Division Three of the Certamen Internacional Ciudad de Valencia, held on 21 July in the Palau de la Música.
• - 2019: First Prize in Division Three of the Certamen Provincial Alicante, held on 6 April in Torremanzanas.
• - 2022: First Prize and Honorable Mention in the 50th Certamen Provincial de Bandas de Música de Alicante, held on 30 October in the ADDA.
• - 2023: First Prize and Honorable Mention in Division Three of the Certamen de Bandas de Música de la Comunidad, held on 15 January in the Palau de Les Arts.

The Association’s Music School has 11 qualified teachers who give music theory and instrument classes to more than 140 students. The Association currently has 440 members and since 2006 its president has been Juan Rafael Guijarro Tormo.

José Antonio Antolín Polo was born in Sax. He began studying music theory and horn at the Academia de la Unión Musical before going on to the Conservatorio Elemental de Música de Elda where he was taught by Rafael Segura. He continued his studies at the Conservatorio Superior de Música “Oscar Esplá” de Alicante with Roberto Trinidad, where he completed his degree and won the Extraordinary End of Degree Prize.

In 1992 he won a horn seat in la Real Orquesta Sinfónica de Sevilla. From 1993 to September 2002 he was a member of the orchestra, forming part of the brass section and the ensemble’s wind octet.

In 2002 he gained, through public examination, a permanent post as a horn teacher in the Valencia Region. From 2004 to 2015 he taught horn at the Conservatorio Superior de Música “Oscar Esplá” de Alicante.

He currently teaches horn at the Conservatorio Profesional de Música “Ana María Sánchez “de Elda (Alicante).

He was the director of the school and wind band of the Sociedad Unión Musical Algueñense from 2006 to 2015. He is currently the director of the Sociedad Musical La Esperanza de San Vicente del Raspeig and the Banda de Música de la Sociedad Unión Musical y Artística de Sax (Alicante). As the director of these three ensembles he has taken part in different contests and won the following prizes: 8 First Prizes with Commendations, 2 First Prizes, 2 Second Prizes and 2 Third Prizes.