Husband and wife founders Mark and Lou Bradbury were thrilled to be chosen as a contender in the Best Contribution to Life in the District category.

Looking at the comments from parents it was easy to see why – children love the music sessions where they can play instruments and sing songs.

One mum wrote: "Our Little Notes class becomes the highlight of my and my little girl's week, as she is all smiles during the session and loves the environment.

"I would strongly recommend that this business receive the award, as they are doing so much to improve the quality of our lives here in Horsham.

Mark, 36, commented: "We do work very hard in what we do.

"We put our life and souls in to trying to bring the best to the children that we work with.

"It's encouraging to have that recognised that people really appreciate the music that we make together."

The business was formed in 2005 after Lou gave birth to her daughter Eleanor.

She noticed how much her baby loved listening to her play music and how intensely she responded to it.

Setting up the music sessions for children helped combine Lou's love of teaching with performing – and Little Notes was born.

Early involvement in musical activity can help coordination, balance, body awareness and the ability to plan ahead.

It also encourages expressive speech and a wide vocabulary, as well as giving children self-confidence.

But most importantly it is fun for both children and parents.

Lou, 34, explained: "After having a baby I was blown away by how they respond to music.

"I was seeing a widening of the eyes – I was really surprised that she responded at all.

"I didn't have any experience of music with small children – I noticed she was at her most aware and alert when I was playing to her.

"We have spent ten years performing in places all over the world and to a certain extent there's something very conservative about it and not that interactive.

"Whereas when you have got a room full of children and lots of little pairs of eyes looking up at you it's wonderful."

Today they run 16 sessions a week from various locations in Horsham.

And since they started 500 families have come through their doors.

They still manage to fit in performing with their work in Horsham.

During her career, Lou trained at the Royal Academy of Music in London and has given music workshops at hundreds of schools and prisons across the UK.

She regularly plays at festivals, has recorded for BBC Radio 3, BBC TV and LINN records.

Children visiting Little Notes could see her flaunting a flute, tinkling the ivories or even playing a member of the recorder family.

Mark meanwhile is a professional opera singer and also graduated from the Royal Academy of Music.

He has travelled the world with opera companies and orchestras from the London Proms to New York and has even had platinum hit records singing 80s pop songs in the style of Gregorian chant.

He is passionate about working with children and has given many workshops across the UK.

Mark added: "In many ways it's more rewarding than performing at the Royal Albert Hall because you have got people who have got a fresh response to music.

"We would love to take it further – at the moment we can't really run any more sessions than we're running at the moment.

"I think there will come a time when we will expand beyond Horsham."