CONCORD — They've won numerous awards and sung the national anthem at Golden State Warriors and San Francisco Giants games.

Now the Concord High School Ladies First barbershop choir could be representing its hometown, the Mt. Diablo Unified School District, Contra Costa County and the United States by presenting the old-fashioned American music genre at the 2010 World's Fair in Shanghai.

The group is working to accomplish this dream by rehearsing while trying to raise $175,000 for a July trip.

"Most of the other festivals we've attended have been competitions," said choir director Christian Emigh. "This is different. It's an opportunity to present what the United States has to offer to the global

The all-girls choir sings tuneful harmonies a cappella, telling stories from bygone days of romance, joy, sorrow, pride and patriotism. Engaging facial expressions, snappy gestures and choreographed body movements add to their appeal.

Since the group formed about 13 years ago, it has earned a strong reputation as a dedicated ensemble of talented young ladies who blend tenor, bass, baritone and lead vocals. The group was one of three school choirs from the United States invited to perform at the World Expo based on auditions, said Emigh, who believes the other two groups are not pursuing the opportunity. That means Ladies First could be the only American school choir at the event.

The group hopes to share songs

"Ladies First is an outstanding choral group that reflects so well upon our entire community," she said "They just do such an excellent job representing us wherever they perform, within the community and on their many trips. We're very proud of their accomplishments."

Emigh said it's rare for high school students to sing barbershop style music, because it requires singers to stay in tune without any musical accompaniment. The 32 girls in the choir said they have formed a family-like bond because they work so closely together.

"Through our music, we connect," said Dani Doedens, 17, who sings tenor. "I think that's why it's so special to me."

The vocalists said they are excited about the possibility of traveling to China to find out about other cultures and to bring back what they learn about the event's theme of technology and sustainability to share with their classmates and the community. Emigh said he hopes the girls will make presentations to groups such as the Rotary Club, City Council and school board after they return.

The trip offers the choir an opportunity to participate at least twice in a formal exchange program, performing for Chinese groups and vice versa. The choirs would also share social time, talking about their musical styles and traditions through interpreters.

Though the choir is accustomed to raising about $75,000 a year for trips around the country, Emigh said he is reaching out to businesses, foundations and arts organizations that may be willing to help fund the China trip with donations or grants of $10,000 or more, to equal about $100,000 in sponsorships. Without that kind of funding, the group will likely have to decline its invitation, he said.

But the desire to build on the choir's past successes and share its unique style of music at a festival with more than 200 groups from around the world is a strong motivator, which strengthens the girls' ties.

"We bond so much in this choir," said Ashley Bittle, a 16-year-old lead singer. "We take apart each piece of a song and try to relate it to something in our lives. We've had really emotional pieces. We'll grow and we'll change together, hopefully coming back even stronger as a family."