Standing in the spotlight: The interplay of music performance anxiety, perfectionism, and fear of negative evaluation in conservatory musicians

Music performance anxiety (MPA) is an age-old phenomenon well known to musicians. It is a feeling of unease and apprehension that can manifest itself in various forms – from mild discomfort to intense anxiety – when musicians are preparing to perform or are actively performing. MPA can arise from many different sources, including perfectionism and fear of negative evaluation (FNE). Drawing upon a sample of 144 musicians, this research explores the mediating (cross-sectional) and moderating roles of FNE in the relationship between perfectionism and MPA. We found that the indirect effect of perfectionism on MPA through FNE is significant. This result suggests that the influence of perfectionism on MPA is, at least partially, transmitted through heightened FNE. However, the moderating role of FNE in the relationship between perfectionism and MPA was not found to be significant. This implies that while FNE might not exacerbate or attenuate the effects of perfectionism on MPA, it nonetheless acts as a significant intermediary mechanism through which perfectionism exerts its influence on MPA. Implications for both theory and practice are discussed, and potential avenues for interventions aimed at alleviating MPA are suggested.