The Masterworks Chorale was founded in 1974, by conductor A. Dennis Sparger, as the Belleville Area College Community Chorus. The repertoire consisted of major works performed with student-faculty orchestra, and the membership was open to all singers who felt they could maintain the pace.

The name of the chorus was changed to the Masterworks Chorale in 1980 to reflect its repertoire and select memberships, as auditions had been established by that time. In 1983, the Chorale left the sponsorship of the college and became an independent not-for-profit corporation chartered by the State of Illinois. The Chorale also began using professional orchestra and soloists about this time. In 1984, tax-exempt status 501(c)(3), was granted by the Internal Revenue Service. The Children's Choruses were begun in 1985 through a grant from the Belleville News-Democrat and Capital Cities Foundation.

The Chorale was joined by the Dave Brubeck Quartet in 1982 for a performance of Brubeck's The Gates of Justice. In 1985 the Chorale made its first European Concert Tour and that fall presented the midwest premiere of a new critical edition of Mozart's Requiem. In 1995 the Chorale commissioned and premiered Stephen Mager's Sinfonia Pastorale.

In 1987 the Chorale joined the Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra and Chorus under maestro Leonard Slatkin to perform Berlioz' monumental Grande Messe de Morts. And in 1993 the Chorale combined with the Bach Society of Saint Louis to perform Haydn's The Creation at Powell Hall; a solid performance, critically praised for its many unabashedly glorious passages.

Outstanding soloists who have appeared with the Chorale include soprano Erie Mills (1987 and 1999), tenor William McDonald(1988), Grammy award-winning narrator William Warfield (1989), mezzo soprano Nancy Maultsby (1989), Gospel composer-conductor Robert Ray (1994 and 1996), and soprano Christine Brewer (1983, 1985, 1988 and 1993).

Since 1986 performances of the Chorale's Christmas at the Cathedral concerts have reached a wide audience throughout the greater St. Louis area through radio broadcasts in digital stereo on KFUO-FM Classic 99.

Management for the Chorale is provided by a board of directors who serve overlapping three-year terms. Board members consist of members of the Chorale and members of the community. Officers consist of a chairman, vice chairman, secretary and treasurer.

Financial records are reviewed annually by an independent CPA.