"Fallen Petals of Nameless Flowers" is a musical and spoken-word work by composer Jeff Scott based on the poetry of Robert Laidler and materials compiled by Bryan Jones.  It tells the stories of four men from Michigan who were sentenced to life without parole as juveniles and were later released after a U.S. Supreme Court ruling. The piece uses metaphors of flowers and petals to represent the men and their experiences, with music performed by ensembles like Imani Winds. 

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• The music: Composed by hornist and composer Jeff Scott, it was commissioned by Chamber Music Detroit and premiered in 2022.

• The poetry: Written by Robert Laidler, the text is based on interviews he conducted with four men who were serving mandatory life sentences as juveniles.

• The subject: The piece focuses on juvenile lifers who were sentenced to life without parole before the U.S. Supreme Court banned the practice for juveniles in 2012.

• The meaning: The title "Fallen Petals of Nameless Flowers" uses a flower metaphor to represent the men, with petals symbolizing their arms and their stories highlighting the impact of disproportionate sentencing and the struggle for release and reintegration.