Anwei majored in music education and music performance at Old Dominion University.

She performed "The Telephone" and other operas with ODU's opera workshop and was a soloist with ODU's Jazz Ensemble and Smyphony. Anwei also toured South America with the Virginia Opera Associations performance of Porgy & Bess in Brazil, Argentina & Uraguay. She also performed with the Elizabeth River Theatre company's production of Die Fledermaus.

She has won honors three times from the National Association for Teachers of Singing and has also won the regional level of the Leontyne Price vocal competion.