It appears that it is not only brass bands that get annoyed by the cost of the 'entry' fees they are asked to pay to participate in major events.

Now Welsh choirs are complaining about the amount of money they need to find if they wish to participate in 'The Land of Song Festival' to be held at Cardiff's Principality Stadium in May next year.

20,000 singers

The festival celebrates the Welsh nation's connection to singing, community and belonging, and links back to the famous 'World Choir' concerts of 1992 and 1993. To be headlined by renowned Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli, it was hoped that more than 20,000 singers from various choral organisations would participate.

However, it has been reported that choirs will have to pay £150 as a subscription fee to attend, with each individual choir member also having to pay £42.

Exorbitant

It has led to accusations that the cost of participating in the event is "exorbitant", with one choir member reported in a WalesOnline newspaper article saying that it was a "money-making racket — 20,000 choristers having to pay £42 each = £840,000 — plus £150 per choir registration fee."

Another stated that with accommodation costs they were looking at around £1,000 per person to attend for the two nights required, adding that if the organisers wanted to help then they should at least come up with a cost effective way of welcoming the choirs themselves."