Why was the violin section always so anxious before a show?

They were highly strung.

Did You Know?

"Highly strung" means both "very anxious" and literally describes violin strings pulled tight! Orchestra musicians do experience genuine performance anxiety—studies show up to 70% of professional musicians deal with stage fright. Interestingly, violin strings are tuned to precise tensions: the E string can withstand nearly 16 pounds of pressure while producing its signature high pitch.