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Fine Arts Department

At DeBakey High School, the Fine Arts Department is a vibrant community where creativity, discipline, and expression come together. Students across Theatre, Orchestra, and Visual Arts consistently demonstrate excellence, earning numerous awards and recognitions at local, district, regional, and national levels.

 

Theatre Arts

Our Theatre program empowers students to explore acting, directing, and stage production while building confidence and collaboration skills. Each year, students participate in a variety of productions, including a full musical, the UIL One Act Play competition, and senior-directed scenes, all performed in the school’s intimate Black Box Theatre. Recent productions include Radium Girls, a powerful play based on the true story of young women in the 1920s who fought for justice against unsafe working conditions. The production earned multiple honors at the UIL One Act Play District Contest, including All Star Cast, Honorable Mention All Star Cast, and Best Tech Crew.

Learn more about our Theatre program here: https://sites.google.com/view/debakeytheatre

Full Orchestra

The DeBakey Full Orchestra program brings together dedicated student musicians who consistently earn top ratings and awards, including recent success at the 2026 Regional UIL Competition. Students benefit from unique learning experiences, such as working with guest conductor Dr. Kayoko Dan of Sam Houston State University. Performances throughout the year highlight both large ensemble and individual talent. The Spring Orchestra Concert features major works like Pirates of the Caribbean, performed by a combined ensemble of nearly 80 musicians, while the Honors Recital showcases soloists, small groups, and original student compositions across a wide range of musical styles. DeBakey musicians also engage with the broader community. The DeBakey Quintet was recently invited to perform at the Houston Symphony’s Family Concert series, presenting Mozart’s Clarinet Quintet in A Major, and has been invited back for next year.

Visual Arts

In Visual Arts, DeBakey students develop technical skills and personal style across a range of mediums. DeBakey artists consistently earn top recognition at prestigious competitions and exhibitions. Students have achieved outstanding success in the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards, earning dozens of Gold and Silver Keys and outperforming several HISD high schools. Their work has also been featured in major exhibitions, including the Eye on Houston Photography showcase at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, where DeBakey artists made up a significant portion of selected works. In addition, student artwork is regularly displayed in galleries such as the O’Kane Gallery at the University of Houston-Downtown, and students continue to earn honors in district, state, and national competitions, including first-place and special awards.