By: Kathryn Hodgins, Content and Public Relations Specialist, Florida Virtual School

Yair Keydar performs on the “Star Search”  in January 2026, bringing months of preparation and a steady routine of online learning into the spotlight.

When the stage lights rise, Yair Keydar doesn’t pause to find his mark. He steps forward, shoulders relaxed, voice steady, and lets the first note do the talking. 

Growing up in Parkland, Fla., music was never background noise in Yair’s life; it was the air in the room. His mother’s voice, trained as a cantor, echoed through their home. As a toddler, he followed those sounds instinctively, climbing onto makeshift stages and singing to anyone who would listen. By age three and a half, he was standing in front of an audience of 600, comfortable and composed on stage.

Now 12, Yair still carries that same calm confidence.

“I’ve been singing since I was born,” he says, smiling.

That early ease onstage has carried him far beyond his living room. From performances in New York City to opportunities in Atlanta and now in Los Angeles, Yair has continued to build his craft without pausing his studies. Balancing a performance schedule spanning the country with a full course load as an FLVS Flex student, he's found the rhythm that keeps both moving forward.

A Message that Changed Everything

Yair’s path to Netflix didn’t begin with a grand audition hall. It started with a message. 

A casting director saw his online performances and wanted to hear more. Soon, Yair was recording songs, meeting producers over Zoom, and flying to Los Angeles for callbacks. Six months after the first outreach, the moment arrived: Yair had been selected to compete on the reboot of the iconic “Star Search” show, which first aired in 1983 and is credited with launching the careers of many celebrities, including Britney Spears, Justin Timberlake, and Beyoncé. The live-five-week talent competition, hosted by Netflix.

Everything moved quickly. He learned he’d made the show in December 2025 and was filming by January. For nearly four weeks, he lived in LA with his father, surrounded by studio lights, music coaches, and fellow young performers who quickly became friends.

Each day brought a new schedule. Some days began at dawn, others at noon, but every day was full: interviews, choreography, rehearsals, music sessions, photo shoots, and time on set.

“It was a very quick process,” he says, “but also the best experience.”

Yair was crowned a champion in the Juniors division and frequently earned perfect five-star ratings from judges, and had several standout performances, including a 

rendition of "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" that received a standing ovation, and a heartfelt performance of Stevie Wonder's "Don't You Worry 'Bout a Thing."

He was widely praised for his powerful vocals, emotional maturity, and commanding stage presence, but did not advance to the finale in February.

“His outfits were legendary, his crowd work was perfection, but what stood out more than anything was his voice. He had the celebrity judges, Jelly Roll, Sarah Michelle Gellar, and Chrissy Teigen, wowed and in some cases, weeping,” according to an article published on online magazine Kveller.

Balancing a National Stage With Schoolwork

Despite filming Star Search six days a week, school remained a priority. As a minor, Yair was required to study daily, and FLVS made that possible. 

“At first, you want to be on set all day,” he says. “But then you get tired, and going to the tutoring room to complete school work became the perfect escape.”

His FLVS teachers supported him not only throughout his Star Search journey, but also during other performances in New York and Atlanta. Their support extended beyond travel, as they continued to check in regularly, help him pace assignments around filming and rehearsal schedules, and provide consistency and structure while he practiced and performed from home. 

A Happy Place in Every Note

Ask Yair why he sings, and he doesn’t hesitate.

“It’s my happy place,” he says. “I’m grateful I get to share my love of singing with the world.”

Performing on a national stage only strengthened that joy. He loved the crew, the friendships, and the creative atmosphere that surrounded him each day.

On set, that joy showed up in small moments: laughing with castmates between takes, trading encouragement backstage, soaking in the creative energy of a professional production. Although he didn’t advance to the final round, he left with something lasting, confidence sharpened by experience and a circle of fellow young artists he now calls friends

 “Star Search was truly the best experience and so much fun,” he said.

A Rising Star With Both Feet on the Ground

Back home in Parkland, Yair is once again juggling vocal practice and FLVS coursework, logging in for lessons between rehearsals and auditions while waiting for his next opportunity to step into the spotlight.

To his teachers, castmates, friends, and fans, his journey already speaks volumes; talent opens doors, consistency keeps them open, and the right learning environment makes room for both.