Dr. DiCenso undertook his studies in musicology at the University of Cambridge with the support of a Gates Cambridge Scholarship. The Gates Scholarship program, begun in 2001 by a 210-million-dollar endowment from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, funds scholars in various fields of study at Cambridge who “desire to use their knowledge to contribute to society throughout the world by providing service to their communities and applying their talents and knowledge to improve the lives of others.” During his time at Cambridge, Dr. DiCenso served as the President of the Gates Scholars' Council and, more recently, he served as Coordinator of the Alumni Ambassadors program, which aims to raise awareness about and attract applicants to the Gates Scholarship program in the U.S. and around the world.
Since that time, Dr. DiCenso has been awarded a number of fellowships and awards to support his research, including a Fellowship award from the Yale Institute of Sacred Music (2013), a Research Fellowship from the Belgian American Educational Foundation (2013), an Andrew F. Mellon Postdoctoral Fellowship from the Pontifical Institute of Medieval Studies (2013, declined), and a Fellowship from the Jesuit Institute at Boston College (2013, declined). From Holy Cross, Dr. DiCenso has also been awarded a Bachelor-Ford Summer Research Grant (2013), the Robert L. Ardizzone (’63) Junior Faculty Research Award (2012), and has received generous support from the college's Research & Publication Fund (2012, 2013).
Selected Awards
- Yale Institute of Sacred Music, Residential Fellowship ($35,000), Yale University, 2013.
- Belgain American Educational Foundation, Research Fellowship ($25,000), Brussels, 2013.
- Pontifical Institute of Medieval Studies, Andrew F. Mellon Postdoctoral Fellowship ($35,000), St. Michael's College, Univeristy of Toronto, 2013. Declined.
- Boston College Jesuit Institute, Residential Fellowship ($50,000), 2013. Declined.
- Bachelor-Ford Summer Research Grant ($3,700), College of the Holy Cross, 2013.
- Robert L. Ardizzone (’63) Junior Faculty Research Award, ($3,000) Holy Cross, 2012.
- Gates Cambridge Trust, Archival Research Award, University of Cambridge, 2008.
- Cambridge 800th Anniversary Fund, (£5,000) $10,000 grant for Magdalene Society of Medievalists, 2008.
- Gates Cambridge Trust Conference Award, University of Cambridge, 2007.
- Charles Squire Research Grant, Faculty of Music, University of Cambridge, 2007.