DIXON – In the world of organ music, both have some amazing street cred.

Steven Egler, a 1967 Dixon High grad, is coming home to give a free recital Sunday on First Christian Church’s newly refurbished Howell organ.

The organ, built by the historic H.A. Howell Co. of Dixon, recently underwent $42,000 worth of repairs and renovations.

Egler, who was assistant organist at the church in 1965, now is professor of music emeritus at Central Michigan University in Mount Pleasant, where he teaches organ and harpsichord as a visiting professor after serving on the School of Music faculty from 1976 to 2014. He also is adjunct instructor of organ at Alma College in Alma, Michigan.

To celebrate the organ’s new life, Egler commissioned a new composition.

“Laeta Memoria” (“Joyful Recollection”) honors the memories of the late Jane Weaver, a church member and longtime guidance counselor at Dixon High, and President Ronald Reagan, who attended the church.

“Laeta Memoria” features the sequence of vowels in both Weaver and Reagan’s last names that also correspond with the notes of the musical scale: E-A-E-E-A-A.

It was composed by David Gillingham, professor of music and Egler’s longtime friend and colleague at Central Michigan University.

Egler’s local roots run deep. He began piano lessons at age 7 with William Worley, took organ lessons with Rachel Hughes during his freshman year in high school, then studied piano and organ with Naomi Howell to prepare for his entrance to Illinois Wesleyan University as a music major.

Weaver was instrumental in guiding a young Egler toward his musical career, and Weaver’s husband, Hal Weaver of Dixon, is the church’s current organist; he extended the invitation to Egler to perform.

Over the years, Egler has performed several times on another Howell organ, at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church in Dixon.