In the wake of World War I and the October Revolution, countless artists emigrated from Eastern Europe to Paris. Alexander Tcherepnin was soon welcomed and adopted by groups of artists such as the École de Paris, a loose gathering of emigrants from several countries that included Bohuslav Martinů and Romanian composer Marcel Mihalovici. Diyang Mei has held the position of principal viola of the Munich Philharmonic Orchestra since the fall of 2019. In October 2022 he will start the position of principal viola with the Berliner Philharmoniker.