The Rotary Orchester Deutschland (ROD) is the only national orchestra within Rotary International, a global network of more than 1.2 million members committed to community service. The full scale symphonic orchestra was founded in 1996 and consists of some 80 accomplished lay musicians. Headed by professional conductors, it gathers about 3 times a year for a week of rehearsals and two consecutive concerts at various locations, each time hosted by the local Rotary Clubs. The orchestra members carry all costs of their travel and accommodation themselves. The net returns of the concerts go into charity projects chosen by the hosting clubs.

In June 2023 the orchestra came to the city of Aachen/DE. Jointly hosted by the Aachen Rotary clubs, the orchestra gave an open air concert on June 11th on the Katschhof, the spectacular square between the Cathedral and the old Townhall, as part of the accompanying programme of the 2023 Aachen Pilgrimage. 

A second concert was given in Maastricht/NL on June 10th, hosted by the Rotary Club Maastricht. The returns of this concert went to the project Water for Life in Arusha/Tanzania.

The Aachen concert had a lot to do with the WBYO:

1. The biggest share of the returns of the Aachen concert went to the further development of WBYO, a project that has been supported by several Aachen Rotary clubs from the beginning.
2. The conductor was Desar Sulejmani, who is a regular guest conductor for the ROD as well as initiator and art director of WBYO.
3. The soloist, baritone Götz Seiz, is the person who in 2019 brought Desar Sulejmani's WBYO project to the attention of the Aachen Rotarians, motivating them to support this project from then on.
4. Six young musicians of WBYO, each coming from a different country of the Western Balkans, participated in the rehearsals and concerts in Aachen and Maastricht.

Concert Homepage Aachen