Elaina Miller, 12, of Snoqualmie has won the National Gold Medal Award from the Royal Conservatory of Music, one of the largest and most respected music education institutions in the world. Miller was also granted the Washington State Certificate of Excellence, and two State Examination Center Certificates of Excellence.

The Royal Conservatory Program provides the definitive standard in music education through its materials, assessment, performance and teacher education. The programs of The Royal Conservatory have had an impact on the lives of millions of people globally. The Royal Conservatory has helped to train a number of artists including Glenn Gould, Oscar Peterson, David Foster, Sarah McLachlan, Angela Hewitt and Diana Krall. As a young student, Miller joins those performers in their own early achievements.

Miller has spent many hours preparing . Each exam at Level 6 (there are 10 grade levels) requires memorization of five piano pieces, both jazz and classical, and theory and technical requirements at each grade level. She is currently in seventh grade at Chief Kanim Middle School. She started learning to play piano and violin at age five. She has been participating in school choir programs and Snoqualmie String Orchestra. She also composes music and has won several awards from Washington State Music Teachers Association, National Federation of Music Club and International Piano Composition Contest—NGPT Award.

Miller is a student of Bob Pajer, National and Washington State Certified Teacher of Music in piano. He is director of the SnoValley Piano Studio on the Ridge and the Mercer Island Piano Studio. He has been teaching and performing in the Snoqualmie Valley and Seattle area since 1999.